Colleges across the Southeast are all starting to learn that there are real athletic gems in Warren County. Nearly a dozen local players signed scholarships in 2023, continuing a trend where more and more Warren County athletes are coveted to play at the next level.

Girls basketball led the way as Mia Hobbs and Kyra Perkins, part of a WCHS girls team that had back-to-back, 20-plus win seasons for the first time in four decades, signed with Freed Hardeman and Walters State, respectively. Just a couple miles away, Audrey Durham inked a scholarship with Maryville College after leading the Boyd Lady Broncos to 59 wins in her final two seasons.

Two-time state champion Ally Beneke went to a Division-1 program, signing to compete in the high jump at Tennessee Tech. Softball produced two signings as Alyssa Mosley signed with UT Southern and Jaz Ward, a current senior at WCHS, has already made her pledge to play at Roane State next year.

Football saw Dayton Jernigan (Carson Newman) and Braylon Grayson (Eastern KY) sign, while Jessie Young signed with Cumberland University to play volleyball. Ashlynn Wells also signed to cheer at Trevecca, while Bekah Jackson signed in November 2022, but started her college soccer career in 2023.