On Thursday at Josh Heupel’s University of Tennessee 7v7 Tournament, Kaden Long looked like a player who was leaving nothing to chance.

The Knoxville Central High School star quarterback knows he has one year left of prep football, and he’s ensuring he can do everything he can, individually, to make the most of it.

Not only did Long lead the Bobcats to the quarterfinals Thursday in a loaded field at the 7v7 event, but from the morning pool play games to the afternoon single-elimination competitions, he authored an impressive showing.

Not to mention, the 6-foot-2, dual-threat quarterback’s frame looked to be 15-20 pounds sturdier.

Long wasn’t slight of build last fall by any means.

He earned 2025 Class 5A Mr. Football finalist honors last fall and All-5Star Preps First Team, throwing for 3,327 yards and 28 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,286 yards and 18 touchdowns. He steered Central to the state quarterfinal round.

But Long said that, now, he’s up to 195 pounds.

“I’m proud of myself, proud of the work I’ve put in,” Long said, when asked about how far he’s come physically and mechanically since his underclassman years. “It’s not over yet. Still got a lot of work to do.”

Given the 7-on-7 format Thursday, Long couldn’t show off his running ability. But you could tell there were times he would have liked to have tucked the ball and sprinted downfield.

Still, Long’s throwing performance Thursday proved impressive in that he didn’t have his top two targets from the 2025 campaign.

Javaston Badgett and Torin McAfee combined for 99 catches, 1,971 yards — 19.9 yards per catch — and 18 touchdowns receiving.

On Thursday, Central still showed a deep vertical pass-game threat as well as an ability to manufacture first downs with short and intermediate routes.

“We replacing Javaston Badgett and Torin McAfee and some of those guys. I thought we came in here and competed. We had some rough moments. We’ve only thrown about three days. But I liked the fact that we competed and we got further than we did last year,” Central coach Kevin Lane said Thursday. “Some kids grew up. We came back and won that first bracket-play game with 13 seconds left. It’s good to see that stuff.”

Central’s returning offensive skill talent and newcomers follow the lead of Long, Lane added.

“He doesn’t take days off. He doesn’t miss days,” Lane said. “He works his tail off. Obviously. Look at his body; he’s gained 20-something pounds. His leadership is what we talked about him needing to grow on, not his talent, and that’s what he’s doing.”

Long is a football junkie and that helps him stay synced up with third-year offensive coordinator Corey Rathbone — a former CAK running back in the Warriors’ 2011 Class 3A championship season.

“I’ve learned so much from him. I feel like I’ve been with him more than my family the last three years,” Long quipped. “Every lunch, watching film. After school. Before school. Always watching film, talking ball, having a good time.”

Head coach Kevin Lane said Rathbone’s contributions to the program have been invaluable.

“Coach Rathbone has been awesome. He out-works anyone in our building, including myself. If I found someone who out-worked him or worked as hard as him, I’d challenge anybody on that,” Lane said.

“He’s put the time in. He cares about it. He loves the kids, loves the place. He does it, too, as a teacher. He’s an excellent English teacher; he’s a Level 5 teacher. He’s driven. He wants to do it. He wants to be good at it. He wants to be great. It’s just who he is.”

Article written by Jesse Smithey/5Star Preps. To read more on area high school sports or to see photo galleries, videos, stat leaders, etc., visit 5StarPreps.com — and use promo code HAMMERS for 30% off your first year or month subscription.

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