Recruit Snapshot: Johnathan Echols
Nashville played host to one of the premier high school football games in the country for 2023 on August 18th, as the Lipscomb Academy Mustangs (Nashville, Tennessee) played host to the Ascenders of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida). Tennessee Volunteer fans watched this game with great interest, as the Vols had 3 commits in action, including one on the IMG side in 4 star 2024 Tight End, Johnathan Echols.
Passes the Eyeball Test
Echols is an impressive specimen at 6’4” tall and 230 pounds. Echols looks and moves far more like a big wide receiver than a tight end, despite the Ascenders regularly lining him up in line, off the end of the line by the tackle, or even as an H-back. IMG also flexes Echols out into space, where he looks most comfortable. The big tight end becomes a match up nightmare for opposing defenses to deal with. He is too big for defensive backs and even some linebackers, and too fast for linebacker and some defensive backs. Add into this the way that IMG is creative in positioning him, moving him in motion, and finding different actions and ways to get him the ball, and Echols is the kind of x-factor that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Exceptional Athleticism
When Echols comes off the line, at 230 pounds, it is hard to process what your eyes see. Echols is a fluid, smooth athlete. He explodes out of his stance, but unwinds with ease, moving more like a sprinter off the blocks. His long, effortless strides eat up a lot of ground, and the big man gets up to top speed deceptively quickly. What isn’t deceptive is the speed Echols shows. The senior has FBS type wide receiver speed, allowing him to run away from defenders. Echols runs good routes, and can work outside or over the middle, feeling the openings in the defense and shielding defenders off with his frame. Again, his routes and his hands look more like a wide receiver than a tight end. We are seeing thr kind of player Josh Heupel wants at tight end in his offense, as to this point, Echols has an evaluation that reads identically to 2023 Tennessee Tight End signee Ethan Davis, of Collins Hill in Georgia. Davis is another big, smooth tight end that unwinds like a sprinter and has a skill set more akin to a wide receiver.
Toughness On Display
Unfortunately, Johnathan Echols was injured in Friday night’s contest by fellow 2024 Tennessee commit Edwin Spillman from Lipscomb. Spillman delivered an absolutely crushing hit to Echols as he turned upfield for a nice gain off a quick out to the flat where Echols was able to work in space. Echols continued to try to play, reentering the game and staying in late into the second half despite the game.being well in hand for IMG. While Echols was less effective after sustaining the injury to his ribs, the grit, toughness, and determination to continue to play in a contest defined by physical play and hard tackles, speaks to the heart Echols has. After the game, Echols was out of his pads, had ice taped to his ribs, and stated that he was heading for x rays. We here at Your High School Sports extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery, little pain, and a successful senior campaign for Echols.
Room to Grow
As impressive as Echols was as a receiver, there is more to playing tight end than just catching the ball. IMG designs plays where Echols has a responsibility to block, sometimes as a lead blocker. That role will be similar in the Volunteer offense, which despite throwing the ball all over the field, is physical in their running game. Tennessee tight ends are important blockers in the offense Josh Heupel has put together in Knoxville, and the running game depends on them pulling their weight at the point of attack. Failure to be an effective blocker limits reps for tight ends in the Tennessee offense, and with the Vols rarely subbing, that diminishes opportunities to get on the field. To be blunt, Echols must improve his blocking. His technique, physicality, willingness, and attitude toward contact. Echols ducked under multiple blocks where he was the lead blocker or was sealing off the back side of the play, allowing tackles for loss. He did not engage well when blocking on screens against smaller defensive backs, playing too high, being too grabby, and getting turned failing to wall off the receiver from the defensive back. This is the single biggest area that Echols must improve to play at the next level.
Final Verdict
Johnathan Echols is a dynamite talent that will continue to be a problem for every defense IMG faces to physically match up with from the tight end spot. He has similar upside with Tennessee, but must develop.
- Extremely smooth, fluid athlete.
- Comes out of a three point or two point stance equally well, looking more like a sprinter.
- Wide Receiver routes, hands, and speed in a tight end body.
- Dangerous offensive weapon that will be difficult to match up with.
- Showed great toughness and heart playing through a painful rib injury.
- Must improve every facet of his blocking to reach his ceiling in high school and college.
No matter how talented players are, there are always areas for development, especially when rising up in levels of competition. Echols is exceptionally polished as a receiver, and that part of his game is an immediate translation to the next level. His blocking needs to be developed, but he has the advantage of superb coaches at IMG and excellent talent to work against in practice and through their schedule. How much Echols develops these areas will determine how quickly he sees the field in Knoxville.
