Preview: Loaded Rocky Top Classic 7v7, Big Man Challenge

The Rocky Top 7v7 classic and Big Man Challenge turned into an annual event at the Rocky Top Sports Complex in Gatlinburg, and the event returns this weekend. 

Year in and year out, the tournament hosts some of the top 7v7 teams and talent from across the state of Tennessee, while bringing in national teams as well. 

This year, the event will once again play host to some serious talent. 36 18u teams are coming to the event, according to tournament organizer Jeff Black, including 15 teams from the state of Tennessee. 

Black's Adidas 'Dream Team' is one of the premiere 7v7 clubs in the nation, and will feature national recruits like Barion Brown, Karson Gay Ty Lockwood, Destin and Keaten Wade, Shamar Porter, Charles Ingram, and Dillon and Micah Bell. 

Brown, an athlete, is recruited by Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and various others. Gay, a tight end from Boyd Buchanan (Tenn.) recently announced a verbal commitment to Virginia, while Lockwood is another massive tight end in the 2023 class with various Division 1 offers. The Wade twins, are considered among the nation's top prospects in the 2022 class, helping Summitt (Tenn.) to a state championship this past fall. Porter and Ingram both star at Ensworth in Nashville and hold multipe offers. Dillon and Micah Bell will join the team from Texas, and they hold double-digit Division 1 offers as well. 

One other in-state team featured in the event will be P.U.R.E., and it features touted 2022 in-state QB prospect, Tevin Carter. He holds offers from Tennessee, Memphis, Texas A&M, and various others. Carter brings several up-and-comers from the Memphis-area, including Mike Clark, Tyler Shaw, Kaleb Almo, and Jason Shaw. 

Also in attendance will be BallHawkU. Chris Smith tells VR2 on SI his team will feature: Luke Brown, Drew Viotto, Lorenzo Perez, Colbey Lamberth, Ben Coggin, Michael Hawkins, D'Arco Perkins-McAllister, Davin Garinger, Ryan Damron, and Zamaryion Kendall with offers to play at the next level.

Perkins-McAllister’s offer list has grown exponentially in the last couple of weeks, as he now holds multiple Division 1 offers to play across the country and in the Southeast. 

The big man challenge will also feature its fair share of talent. 2022 lineman, Fisher Anderson of Franklin (Tenn.), holds offers from schools across the country and will be in attendance. He will be joined by Mammoth 2022 OL Jacob Hood, who recently released a top six featuring multiple SEC teams. Three rising underclassmen with growing offer lists in Tyler Jefferies, Cal Brubbs, and Brycen Sanders will also attend the event. 

The event will draw teams from coast-to-coast and will be played in one day, with a winner crowned late on Saturay