Amari Knows Tennessee: The Chattanooga high schooler鈥檚 guide to having two primary sports
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) – In the fall of 1992, Todd Helton stepped on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Throughout his time there, he would play meaningful games at quarterback for the football team and become arguably the greatest player in the history of the baseball program. Amari Jefferson could be on a similar path.
Jefferson is just a sophomore at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., but he is already a coveted football prospect along with his commitment to play in Knoxville for baseball.
He has a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with plenty of arm strength to help him when he鈥檚 either in the outfield or at quarterback.
Way before Jefferson got to that size, he was already making an impression as a youngster. Whether that was a game winning home run in a little league world series semifinal game or being invited to a showcase as a 10-year-old to Marlins Park.
鈥淓very little kid鈥檚 dream that plays baseball is to play in a major league stadium,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淛ust to be able to do that at that young of an age was just a cool experience.鈥�
Jefferson would continue to improve after that and would commit to play baseball for the Volunteers during the 2021 College World Series. There was a lot of excitement on Rocky Top as they finished the year with 50 wins including the postseason.
The positive momentum from the program and the overall relationship with the coaching staff made it feel like a good fit for Jefferson.
I'm excited to announce my commitment to further my academic and baseball career at The University Of Tennessee. 馃崐
@PBRTennessee— Amari Jefferson (@AmariJefferson6)
鈥淚t definitely was cool to see all the hype going around the school I just committed to,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淚 really like the coaches and the atmosphere at UT. I love everything about Tennessee baseball.鈥�
There was also a lot of hype for baseball at Baylor this past season, as the Red Raiders went all the way to win a state championship.
One of the biggest stars of that Baylor championship team was Cooper Kinney, the 34th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2021 MLB Draft.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a good friend of mine,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淗e kind of took me under his wing with him being a senior and I was just a freshman.鈥�
Winning a state title that early in his high school career and to be around that caliber of talent would be invaluable for Jefferson to experience.
鈥淚t helped me this summer for sure,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淚 knew the level of baseball that I just came from and how I had to prepare and focus.鈥�
After an eventful summer, it was time to focus and get ready to go for the football team. While most multi-sport athletes prioritize one sport, Jefferson views both baseball and football as primary sports.
鈥淧laying football gives me something to do for the fall, so I don鈥檛 get out of shape,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淏aseball does the same thing. When I was playing baseball during the summer, even though I wasn鈥檛 at football, it鈥檚 not like I wasn鈥檛 doing anything.鈥�
Senior Cooper Wick has stepped up as the quarterback at Baylor this fall, but Jefferson has shown his versatility being a reliable playmaker for the Red Raider offense.
Jefferson was in attendance at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 16 for the Ole Miss-Tennessee game as a football recruit.
I am committed to UT in baseball. This Saturday I'll be there as UT football recruit. #GBO#GBR @CoachWMartinez
— Amari Jefferson (@AmariJefferson6)
As the time gets closer, Jefferson鈥檚 future may be decided by a best of three in rock-paper-scissors between Josh Heupel and Tony Vitello. Or maybe they will split the difference and he will play both.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.