Interview: 3-Star 2023 ATH/WR Ayden Greene Entering Fall as Preseason Tennessee All-State
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Competing on both the gridiron and hardwood, the 2020-21 season for Class of 2023 standout Ayden Greene was explosive. The 6-3, 180-pound, Powell High School rising star was a two-sport standout dunking on jokers going above the rim and rising high pulling down passes over defensive backs. Greene’s sophomore football campaign included 35 receptions for 566 yards with seven touchdowns and a 62-yard carry. When the Panthers went on defense, playing corner for the first time he produced 18 stops, 16 solo, with one pick, eight passes broken up, a force fumble, and a fumble recovery. After kicking around Tennessee 5A squads, Greene strides into his junior run as a Preseason All-State selection.
The play on the field has brought other off-the-field recognition that includes being a three-star prospect with seven offers extended.
Making his first appearance in the RNG Lab, Greene updates us on his workouts, camps, and recruiting options.
Interview
Ayden, it didn’t matter if corners were playing you tight or 10 yards off, you were getting open all the time during the 2020 season. When you closed out your sophomore season at receiver, what did you feel were the strengths to your game?
My height and length. I am taller and longer. I feel like if it is a deep or short ball, I have the advantage. Having a longer stride, it is hard to judge what I am doing. For most taller receivers with length, it is hard to tell what they are doing having a bigger body. I shook corners on that. I’d say tracking the ball wherever it is at is another strength. When our quarterback gets pressure, he puts it up for me. Getting open is a strength. I don’t run a 4.3, but I figure out ways to make it work.
Beyond using your speed on go routes, you were also doing some double moves; which routes were you running last season?
With our offense, our offensive coordinator is strategic. We run comebacks and posts, but we don’t run fades or deep balls; that is more 7v7. Digs and comebacks are what separates me from defenders and other receivers.
On the other side of the ball, you were spending time in the Panthers’ secondary getting a sweet pick at corner. Where all did you line up as a defensive back last season?
My freshman year our defensive coordinator wanted to put me at safety, but our depth on defense is weird. We have a lot of safeties but not a lot of corners. He moved me to corner. Growing up I always played linebacker, because I was bigger as a kid. Playing corner and safety was new to me. But I worked at it and got comfortable at it. I like it. It is harder than linebacker, but I make it work.
When you get going again this fall, where all might we see you on the field?
At outside receiver and corner. I will be at safety more this season.
How have you been preparing for your junior season as a receiver this summer?
By training a lot. I went to camps and got feedback from the coaches as a taller-longer receiver. You have to put on weight, so I have been gaining weight, working on my speed, and on my footwork. I have been doing everything that will transfer over to the game and make me better.
What work have you been doing as a defensive back?
Hip movements, being able to not guess what the receiver is doing and trusting in myself. Our cornerbacks coach has been helping me. I want to get better and I need to improve. I have been doing DB drills, breaking quicker, working on my eye contact, and following the hips. Anything to help me get better at corner, I have been doing. I haven’t really played cornerback much, I have to work to get better at it.
Your athletic skills extend beyond the field getting after it on the hardwood. You got some sweet dunks in and some alley-oop slams as well. How have the athletic abilities in basketball helped you in football?
With basketball, my first time touching rim was in eighth grade. After that, I knew I had to dunk. Then I trained my legs so I can dunk. When I got to high school, that helped in football. To dunk you have to jump high. With football, on a deep or high ball, you have to go up and get it.
Also, like I mentioned, all those leg workouts made my legs stronger which makes me harder to tackle. People may look at me and think no way he is squatting a lot of weight, but that is not the case. For my size, I squat more than a normal 6-foot 3-inch receiver at my age. Basketball is a harder game. In basketball you have to bring every more you have. It is a faster game, which helps me stay in shape and helps with football. You go hard every play.
Rolling with your squats, what is your squat max?
Before our dead period we had max week. My sophomore year, I was not as big. My freshman year I did not play as much, we had a good senior receivers. My three-rep max was 315 as a sophomore, I got 360 this year. That was a big jump from last year to this year. I am hoping to improve on that. I’d like to get into the 400 area, but I am not sure if it’ll happen this season but I will soon.
What have you been doing to add more speed to your skills?
I play 7v7 with Elite 3. Coach Riley is a great dude. He is like a godfather. He helps me with my 40, my 40 starts, and 5-10-5. We are doing leg workouts, working on my stride, and movements – hip and leg movement. As a taller and bigger receiver, it is hard to move quickly and react fast, that is more for shorter and faster players. He is helping me with those things.
What is the best 40 time you’ve posted this offseason?
At those camps, I had a serious ankle sprain. I wasn’t able to drill. Coach Riley told me not to run a bad time in front of college coaches. Last year I ran a 4.65, but now that I am back and healthy, I am looking at the 4.5 area.
Which national camps did you compete at this spring?
I went to a Rivals camp. I was going to an Under Armour camp, but at that point I had all my camps worked out. I could not fit it into my schedule. Next offseason I do plan on going to Under Armour camps.
Did you get to compete at any college camps?
I went to Tennessee. I am from Tennessee; they love the local kids. After that I went to Georgia, Alabama, and I went to a Memphis camp. Back to Coach Riley, whatever camp I go to he goes to. He knows a bunch of college coaches. He helps me at the camps so the college coaches are looking for me and they know who I am and I am not just another kid at a camp that they do not know. At all the camps attended, they wanted me there.
The Georgia camp; that’s a big one. How did that go for you?
At Georgia, I tweaked my ankle. My ankle was bothering me, but I still did not drop a pass. I went as hard as I could.
And what about at the Alabama camp? How did you perform there?
I performed really well at the Bama camp. The quarterback from Oak Ridge High School, he is part of Elite 3, we have a good connection. We are always jumping in front of the line trying to get reps in. I did not drop a pass at the Bama camp. I went hard. That was a top camp for me.
Which schools are showing interest in you but have not offered yet?
Michigan, Georgia, and Alabama. Those are probably the ones showing the most interest. There are a few more like Virgnia Tech that likes me along with Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, and Florida. Those schools are showing the most and have not offered.
How many offers do you have?
I have seven.
Which programs were the last couple to offer you?
Tennessee, Virginia, and Pitt.
Greene’s Reported Offer Sheet: Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Tulane, and Virginia
Did you get to visit any programs this summer?
The camps were visits too; they wanted me there. I was supposed to go to Michigan with Adarius, but their offensive coordinator was out of town. He didn’t want us there with him not being there. We were supposed to go again, but the last two times I was supposed to go it did not work out.
Are there any upcoming visits for you even extending on into the fall?
I talked to one of my Powell coaches, USC is a potential visit but that is a big trip for us. That is still in the making; I am not sure if it will happen. Oregon is another big trip; I don’t know about that. Flights and timing go into all that. No promises on those visits. Those are two that I have talked to my coaches about that I may do.
Ayden, I appreciate you updating us on your camp circuit and offseason workouts today. Keep up the hard work.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Greene family; Ayden Greene