Coffee County senior Brandon Jernigan signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Jackson State Community College on Thursday.  In a ceremony held at a private hitting facility, Jernigan signed to play baseball with the Jackson, Tennessee community college.  Jernigan becomes the 3^rd member of the Red Raider senior class to sign a college scholarship; with the possibility of more to come. 

Jackson State is coached by David Winders who just finished his first year as the head coach of the Greenjays.  Winders came to the baseball program after serving as the softball coach for the previous 12 years.  Winders is also a graduate of Jackson State.  Winders was excited about the signing.  “Brandon fits a need at the plate for us” said Winders.  “He also provides us a quality arm that will help our pitching staff” added Winders. 

Jernigan said that Jackson State was the right fit for him and he felt it from the beginning. 

Jernigan expects to be a dual player as he will be in the hitting lineup and pitch.  Jernigan said the faculties are “super nice” and he is looking forward to playing on the field.  “I love the field there; they got some nice trees behind the fence.”  Jernigan was appreciative of Coffee County head coach David Martin’s influence on him both on the field and in the classroom.

Coach Martin, who also attended Jackson State, was happy for Brandon and his opportunity to play at the college level.  “Brandon has a great love for the game” said Martin.  When asked what would make him successful at the college level, Martin said “it is dedication and determination.  Brandon is always striving for success and has a willingness to learn.  I know Brandon is going to a good place and will represent Coffee County well.”

The National Federation of High School Associations, the national governing body of high school sports, has shared a recommended set of guidelines for state associations to follow as they begin to consider a return of sports.

While the guidelines lack a specific start date, as that will vary largely by state and local governments, and these are simply guidelines and not a rulebook for states, they do lay out a logical path to reuniting with your staff and team.

The NFHS put high school sports into three categories; lower risk, moderate risk, and higher risk sports. Not surprisingly to most, football was placed in the higher risk category alongside wrestling, boys lacrosse, competitive cheer and dance.

The recommendation from the NFHS is to involve a three-phase approach to returning. Here’s a look at each of those recommended phases.

Phase 1 includes all coaches and athletes being screened for symptoms of COVID, including a temperature check, prior to workouts. Those with positive symptoms should not be allowed to workout and should be referred to a doctor. The first phase also limits gatherings to no more than 10 people at a time, with no use of locker rooms, and workouts should be done in groups of 5-10 students who will always workout together while a six foot distance should be maintained (so exercises that require a spotter should be avoided).

Phase 2 would still require preworkout screening, and while no more than 10 people can gather at a time inside, workouts outside will allowed to be scaled up to 50. If locker rooms are opened, individuals should observe the 6-foot social distancing guidelines at all times.

Phase 3 relaxes the preworkout screenings to say that any person who has had a fever or cold in the past 24 hours shouldn’t be allowed to participate and attendance should be taken of every workout. Modified practices are recommended to begin for high-risk sports like football during this phase.

Each of the first two phases also recommends players bring their own water bottle and do not gather around hydration stations until the third phase, where those hydration stations should be cleaned after every practice or contest.

Those recommendations are a first-glimpse at what our new normal is likely going to look like, so adjust plans accordingly. To see the full release, with full details see the details at: https://www.nfhs.org/articles/guidance-for-state-associations-to-consider-in-re-opening-high-school-athletics-and-other-activities/

A.J. Brown might’ve been disappointed with not winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2019. But that’s all in the past, he said during a Zoom conference call on Wednesday. Right now, he’s got more important things on his mind — like getting ready for the 2020 season. And being more of a leader this fall.

“I think the sky is the limit for me to be honest,” Brown said. “I am great learner, and I am going to keep learning each and every day. There’s definitely a lot of things I can clean up. In year one, I was really just trying to play fast and not think about it too much. In year two I can really key in and focus what I really need to focus on and learn a lot more stuff in regard to coverages and everything else.

“(I want) to improve on everything. I want to be a complete, well-rounded football player.” Improving also means being more of a leader, Brown said.

“I think I am a natural born leader,” he said. “As a rookie, I really didn’t want to come in and say too much – I just had to come in and show everyone that I am a hard worker myself. I am going to hold myself accountable. Now that I have some of my teammates respect, I can start to hold other people accountable to. I am looking forward to this upcoming season, (having) a leadership role for me, bringing up some of the rookies and everything. So I am really excited for that.”

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who was selected No.1 in the 2019 NFL Draft, by the Cardinals, ended up being selected as the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year by the way. He tallied 26.5 votes.

Brown finished third in the voting, with 9.5 votes, also behind Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who received 13 votes.

“All the Offensive Rookie of the Year stuff, it is really behind me,” Brown said. “I didn’t win. Congratulations to Kyler, but I didn’t win, and I am moving on with it. I am not going to sit here and dwell on it.

“It definitely made me hungrier to achieve bigger goals, so that’s what I am going to do.”

Brown was a playmaker for the Titans in 2019. Brown led all rookies with 1,051 receiving yards, and he also had eight touchdown receptions among his 52 catches, and he added 60 rushing yards with another score.

Brown became the first rookie since Hall of Famer Randy Moss (1998) to have a minimum of 50 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns while averaging 17-plus yards per catch, plus four touchdown catches of 50-plus yards. He was the only NFL rookie since 1970 with 1,000-plus receiving yards and an average of 20-plus yards per reception, and he led the NFL with 605 receiving yards over his final six games of the regular season.

This offseason, Brown became a father. “I have a beautiful baby girl,” he said, smiling. “It has been a blessing to be honest, being able to be with her and see her grow each and every day. I am not getting much sleep right now, but I know it will get better. But it has been great each and every day.”

Brown said he’s also been working to perfect his skills. He said he’s been working with a trainer in Nashville, and said he’s been throwing a few times a week with quarterback Logan Woodside. He’s also been working on his conditioning and running hills with a weight vest.

“I am definitely catching a lot of footballs – I am making sure I am catching over 1,000 balls a day,” he said. “I am definitely putting in the work. And doing these workouts, I am a country boy, so I like to be outside anyway.”

The severe weather that struck Nashville and spawned a devastating tornado on March 3 didn’t stop after departing Davidson County.

Communities east of the city suffered damage as well, as the storm made its way across Middle Tennessee, and another tornado struck the city of Cookeville in Putnam County. Over two months later, clean-up efforts continue, and even amidst a pandemic, the Nashville Predators Foundation was there to help.

On Wednesday, the Predators Foundation empowered by SmileDirectClub delivered a donation of $50,000 to the City of Cookeville in support of their ongoing tornado relief and rebuilding efforts. Following the natural disaster, which in Putnam County took 19 lives, injured 92 and destroyed dozens of homes and businesses, Cookeville has come together to provide for those who are in urgent need. This funding from the Preds Foundation will directly support the citizens of Cookeville and Putnam County, who will require aid in many forms for months to come.

“We’re so appreciative to the Preds for this generous donation,” Mayor of Putnam County Randy Porter said. “We had the worst disaster in our county’s history on March 3, and the outpouring from our community has been absolutely unbelievable.”

“We’re very thankful,” Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said. “We’ve already distributed about $2 million from the Tornado Relief Fund, and this will go a long way for a second distribution now. We’ll be able to get out to our homes [and help some more residents], and we’re just really appreciative of the Predators and their assistance.”

The socially distant check presentation was held at Red Silo Brewing Company in Cookeville, and for good reason. The Foundation was also on hand to present Red Silo with a guitar trophy, which was earned by winning the fan vote at the 2019 Nashville Predators Craft Beer Fest presented by Allegiant.