Trey Knox, with Tennessee Vols, Ohio State football among finalists, third in state shot put

Blackman junior Trey Knox started competing in track and field this year because he felt it would help him get faster on the football field.

Ironically, the event Knox ultimately qualified for state in was the shot put.

Apparently Knox is getting stronger as well. He completed his first track season by finishing third in the state with a throw of 49-10 in the Large Division Thursday at MTSU.

"I guess I'm explosive. ... I know how to use my body," said Knox, who is a four-star football recruit as wide receiver for the Blaze. "I squat 525 (pounds). My explosiveness helps me push the (shot) out."

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Knox competed in numerous events during the season, including sprints, relays and the high jump. The shot put became his best event. He won the county championships, the sub-sectional and sectional meets.

All the while he was practicing with the Blaze football team during spring practice, including getting acclimated to defense as an outside linebacker.

"I was really focusing on defense," said Knox, who has only played offense for the Blaze entering this spring. "I feel like I've looked good at that."

With spring practice and track and field season over, Knox will again turn his attention to recruiting. He will take an official visit to Arkansas June 8-10.

His top six choices haven't changed. They include Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Florida, Louisville and LSU.

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Scruggs ends on high note

Like Knox, Riverdale's Michael Scruggs was a football standout who waited until his junior season to start running track.

His rationale was a little different, however.

"I never in a million years thought I'd go to college for track," said Scruggs, a UT-Martin track and field signee. "I started running track because they told me I was fast."

Scruggs finished a stellar two-year track and field career with a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash Thursday in 10.55 seconds after having won the event as a junior. He also competed in the long jump, the 4x100 relay and the 200-meter dash at the state meet.

He said he realized track and field had overtaken football as his primary sport during the past offseason.

"I realized it when people started telling me I could go to college in track," said Scruggs.

"It's been great. To win the state last year and be the second-fastest this year is more than I ever would have thought."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.