Recruit Snapshot: Carson Gentle
Carson Gentle, defensive end, linebacker, and tight end for McCallie School (Chattanooga, TN) has put together a career thus far that will make every coach aware of his story smile. Gentle is a tough young man that has done everything right to earn the situation he finds himself in, namely, a Captain on an undefeated, nationally ranked high school team, and an SEC roster spot in Knoxville waiting on him.
Out Work Everybody
Your High School Sports was able to cover Carson Gentle and McCallie to open the 2022 season as they faced off against Chattanooga Christian, and then again in 2023 for the annual showdown with arch rival Baylor. In 2022, Gentle was wearing number 8, was playing defensive end, and was the first commit for Josh Heupel in the 2024 class. In 2023, Gentle was wearing number 17, playing linebacker, and was the longest committed player in Tennessee’s currently Top 10 recruiting class in the nation. Now, that is a lot of change, but a few things were still the same. Gentle still plays with a grit and toughness that defines his game, he was still the ultimate team-first guy, Gentle was the heart of the McCallie defense, and he will still hit you hard enough to rattle fillings.
Gentle was a player that played well as a freshman and sophomore for McCallie, but he was undersized and a bit skinny. Still, Gentle developed his technique, toughness and football IQ to the point that he could be an effective defender for the Blue Tornadoes despite his lack of physical gifts. Then, between his sophomore and junior seasons, Gentle’s body caught up with his work ethic and technique. Gentle is now listed at 6’3” and 250 pounds, and that 250 is as solid as a brick outhouse. Gentle picked up an offer from Tennessee to come play as a defensive end. Gentle opened his 2022 season with a sack, and played like a man with his hair on fire, terrorizing quarterbacks off the edge all season.
In 2023, despite Tennessee wanting him as a defensive end, McCallie needed to ask the captain to help the team, change positions again, and fill a need at linebacker. To no one’s surprise that has ever met Carson Gentle, he immediately made the switch to do what his team needed most. Also to no one’s surprise, Gentle has thrived in the linebacker role for McCallie, though he still flashes brightest when he gets the opportunity to pin his ears back and come after the quarterback.
A Complete Defender
Gentle told Your High School Sports in his post game interview after a huge victory over Baylor that Rodney Garner and the Vols still see him as a strong side defensive end. Having watched Gentle in-person play both positions, defensive end is his best position. Gentle is an absolute technician with a motor that never slows down, let alone quits, as he is working on the line. Gentle uses his hands very well to shed blockers and get to the passer, to create space and control a tackle to defend a read option, and to attack inside and outside shoulders with equal efficacy. The relentless effort and grit that Gentle brings to every play leaves offensive tackles feeling as though they have endured a day’s long artillery barrage. Gentle is ferocious with the pressure he applies and way he attacks, wearing down blockers, making their minds work as hard as their bodies. Gentle is the kind of defender every coach wants on their team.
Now, Gentle is adding even more skills to his toolbox courtesy of an excellent campaign as a middle linebacker. Gentle appears to have improved his top end speed and looks more fluid in his movements. He pursues well, flows to the football, reads his keys, and arrives where he needs to be in short order and with bad intentions. The ability to play through trash, shed blocks, flow to the ball, and tackle better, especially in space, will prove advantageous for Gentle at the next level. Playing middle linebacker, Gentle will arrive in Knoxville already with a better understanding of the wider defense and his role in it than most young defensive linemen possess.
Simple as a Punch in the Mouth
Carson Gentle is a complete player, a bright young man, and a great leader on his team on and off the field. He has had his success playing against the best competition that the state of Tennessee can offer week in and week out. Gentle developed the technique and effort to play at a high level, and then developed his body to match up with his skill. And all of that pales away to the absolute physicality that Gentle plays with. He delivers a blow on every play, they never seem to fade or wear on him, and they all hurt. Gentle is the boxer that ears his opponent’s best punches, smiles back at him, and caves the opponent’s face in with repeated, stiff, sharp, straight jabs. Watching Gentle play is how defense is supposed to be played, with technique and toughness.
Gentle is the kind of kid that eats nails for breakfast, and then asks for seconds. Every defensive line coach that read that last sentence is smiling right now, because that is the kind of kid you love to have on your team and to coach. Arriving in Knoxville, Gentle will be paired with possibly the best defensive line coach in America in Rodney Garner, a man with a personality that makes it easy to see him having a favorite type of breakfast nail. Garner is a notoriously tough coach, but the results speak for themselves, and Gentle loves the tough coaching, and is excited to grow under Garner. Because of course he is. What else would you expect? Gentle may change positions, may change numbers, may change jersey colors, and may need to be a gym rat to be effective at the next level, but what will remain the same is the effort, toughness, and work ethic on display that will allow Gentle to rise to the occasion.
