Tennessee quarterback signee Kaidon Salter became the first player in Cedar Hill High School football program’s history to pass, rush and catch a touchdown in a state semifinal game on Saturday afternoon in Texas.
The historic performance led Cedar Hill to a 27-17 victory over Guyer High School of Denton, Texas, in Texas’ Class 6A Division II semifinals at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Now, the Longhorns prepare for next week’s state title game against Katy High School.
“Katy is a nice program and so is Cedar Hill,” Salter told Austin Price and Chris Low on The Nation Sunday night. “They have a real nice run game on offense and I know there defense is pretty tough. We just gotta put in the work this week, execute our gameplan.
“To be able to make it this far has been nothing but a blessing. With the state championship game being my graduation year, it would be a real big blessing to have 2021 on the water-tower in the city of Cedar Hill.”
Salter finished the semifinal game against Guyer 19-of-25 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, while catching an eight-yard touchdown on a trick play.
“I play with confidence,” Salter said. “When I mess up, I’m confident to go back out there the next possession that I’ll go out there better than I did on the last possession. I just play with a chip on my shoulder.
“All eyes are on the quarterback at all times. So I just go out there knowing that I have a lot of eyes on me and I have to play with a lot of confidence. Playing with confidence will get you a long ways. I just go out there and play like me and do what I do to put my team in the best position to win.”
Salter committed to the Vols on May 10. He was one of the last recruits to visit Tennessee before in-person recruiting was shutdown due to COVID-19. The 6-foot-1.5, 185-pound dual-threat quarterback would eventually sign with the Vols on Dec. 16, the first day of the early signing period.
The four-star quarterback leave the state of Texas ranked as the No. 46 overall player in the country by 247Sports. Salter is considered as the third-best dual-threat quarterback and the sixth-best player from the Longhorn state.
“I was really only recruited by a few Texas schools which was surprising me,” Salter said. “But it’s nothing but a blessing to be going out of state, out of Texas to the University of Tennessee. It’s a real big blessing. It’s an opportunity for me and my family. In order for me to get where I want to be, I feel like it’s the perfect place for me.”
Cedar Hill will face Katy at AT&T Stadium next Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. It’ll be quite the eventful weekend for Salter, as he’ll turn around the morning, or the next night, and travel to Rocky Top.
Salter will be the fourth quarterback on scholarship when he arrives at Tennessee. After Jarrett Guarantano and JT Shrout transferred to Washington State and Colorado, respectively, sophomore Brian Maurer and freshman Harrison Bailey were the only quarterbacks remaining in the room who were on scholarship.
The Vols added Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker late last week. He officially signed on Friday afternoon.
