Author Archives: DylanVol

Remaining Board as Pruitt and Co Jump In – Offense

Although Butch Jones ultimately wasn’t the answer for Tennessee and left the program in the midst of its worst season ever, he did leave a relatively robust recruiting board in terms of talented players who have strong relationships with the school or at least took visits.  Before we get into prospects who a new staff will add to the board, below is a look at players who’ve been linked to UT in some capacity and where Tennessee might stand right now, starting with offense:

OL

One could make the argument that this class needs three more OL in addition to Lane and Antonutti.  Unfortunately the current board doesn’t have a ton of names on it, but what it lacks in quantity it certainly makes up for in quality.  It all starts, of course, with the local legend Cade Mays:

Cade Mays* – We all know about him.  OL Coach Will Friend and OC Tyson Helton were in to see him yesterday, Pruitt will be in home next week.  And Fulmer is all over it.  Color me not shocked if we reel him back in, although it won’t be easy

Jerome Carvin – Likely down to us and UF, with the Gators having the Mullen tie, which is meaningful.  I wouldn’t be surpised to see him take another visit to Knoxville before he makes a final decision, which of course would be a great sign.  Carvin may not be a plug and play guy like Mays, but he’s an early enrollee who would likely be able to give some snaps on a pretty thin OL next season

Jahmir Johnson – Very good JUCO prospect who the previous staff offered and had a relationship with (he was scheduled to OV for the Vandy game but that was cancelled), and the new staff immediately offered as well.  Importantly, he’s one of 4 bigtime prospects at Arizona Western (former home of Jonathan Kongbo) who have offers from and interest in.  Good news is that Defensive GA Jon Shalala went out to visit the school, where he was the OL coach before coming to Tennessee, ten days ago, so there has been recent contact. On an OL bereft of both talent and numbers, he would be a big add.  Hopefully the new staff can secure an OV and get firmly in the mix

Jalen Goss – A former Florida commitment, Goss is a talented player from a strong program in Valdosta, GA.  A long and lean OT prospect, he’s taken an AU visit and is expected to OV to Michigan this weekend.  His has been a relatively quiet recruitment, but one has to think Pruitt and Friend have good relationships in that area of GA, so we’ll see how much UT tries to get involved

RB

The immediate need at running back is dependent to a large extent on John Kelly’s NFL decision.  Should he return for 2018 he’ll team with Ty Chandler to form a very strong 1-2 punch, and behind them Carlin Fils-aime and Tim Jordan along with Anthony Grant give the Vols a strong stable of backs.  If Kelly were to leave, however, things look very different.  I think it’s imperative that Tennessee add another RB in this class, and depending on how things go with the two below (specifically Dixon) I wouldn’t be surprised to see the new staff throw out some more offers at the position.

LJ Dixon* – A summertime commit to the Vols, Dixon decommitted during the season after Clemson kept putting pressure on him.  However, he’d defied expectations by not (yet) committing to the Tigers, and there has been talk of him wanting to take a Vols OV.  With Gillespie staying on staff and a new direction for the program if Tennessee can indeed get him back to Knoxville there’s a real chance they can land his signature

Michael Barrett – Goss’s teammate, UT has been keeping Barrett warm throughout the season as it sat on two RB commits it liked.  However, with the decommitment of LJ Dixon the class currently has only one RB in it and definitely needs another.  Barrett played QB for Lowndes and looks to my eyes a lot like Cam Akers in that role.  Michigan has made a big push (he’s already OV’d there) but he’s a talented player that likes the Vols a lot. If Pruitt is interested I think the Vols could get heavily involved.

WR

Another spot where the decision about the return of an existing player (this time, Jauan Jennings) makes a large difference in how one feels about the position and what the class of 2018 needs.  But it needs WRs for sure, and right now it has zero.  I expect Pruitt to add Alontae Taylor back to the commitment list soon, but he’ll need to expand the board and get a few more in this class.

Alontae Taylor* – Taylor is taking his OV in Knoxville this weekend and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him recommit to the Vols and lock it down.  He’s a really good player at a position of need, not to mention an instate stud who UGA is fighting hard for, so getting him back into the fold would be a big win for Pruitt and Co.

Shocky Jacques-Louis* – Another former WR commit, Jacques-Louis is a very good prospect who I’d love to see end up signing with the Vols.  He’s completed his OVs, having taken his to Knoxville for the UGA game. He plans to sign 12/20 and expressed interest in hearing from Coach Pruitt, so if Tennessee wants to get back in this recruitment it has a narrow window.

Jaron Woodyard – Another of the Arizona Western prospects on the board, Woodyard also received an offer from the previous staff and has been quoted as saying he is saving an OV for Tennessee.  That said, he appears to be a big target for Scott Frost and Nebraska, so that will be a battle – in fact, Nebraska insiders think he could pop this weekend while in Lincoln.  He’s talented and an early enrollee, so at yet another position that could use both talent and raw numbers, he’s an interesting prospect

Jeshaun Jones – A good friend of Jacques-Louis and a fellow early-enrollee, Jones also took his UT OV for the UGA game.  He recently got an offer from Frost and Nebraska and will be taking an OV there this weekend.  He’s very talented and smooth – route running and hands are his best traits.  Hopefully the Vols can get back in this one

*Former commitment

Let’s Pruitt: The immediate impact of Jeremy Pruitt on the Vols’ 2018 recruiting class

As the disaster of a 2017 season wore on and things looked bleaker and bleaker for Butch Jones, everyone knew that a class once ranked as high as #4 in the country was going to take a hit.  And that’s certainly happened, as the class has lost multiple commitments, including many of its top-rated players.

With the early signing period just two weeks away, let’s take a look at where the current class stands, and which, if any, of the decommitted players Pruitt and Co. can woo back into the fold.

The Solid Core of the Class

The ten guys below are longtime commitments who have been solid throughout, never wavering despite a season that went downhill quickly and a subsequent coaching change.  On defense especially, and particularly on the defensive line, it’s a good group of players and a strong foundation upon which Pruitt can build the kind of initial class needed to get his tenure off on the right foot.

  • DL Greg Emerson – OV this weekend
  • LB Matthew Flint – OV this weekend
  • DB Brandon Cross – OV this weekend
  • OL Tanner Antonutti – OV this weekend
  • P Paxton Brooks – OV this weekend
  • DL D’Andre Litaker
  • DL Brant Lawless
  • DL Jamarcus Chatman
  • OL Ollie Lane
  • TE Jacob Warren

“Soft” commitments who will have to be re-recruited

  • QB Adrian Martinez
  • QB Michael Penix
  • RB Anthony Grant

Martinez has taken OVs to both OSU and Missouri and recently received a very quick offer form Scott Frost at Nebraska, where he’ll be taking an official visit this weekend.  He has also already used his official visit to UT, so a relationship with the new staff will have to be formed via coaches’ visits to his home in California.  While he’s expressed a strong desire to stick with the Vols, Nebraska is clearly a threat.  It also remains to be seen how hard Pruitt and new OC/QB coach Tyson Helton will work to retain Martinez’s commitment.  I’m of the opinion that this class needs two talented QBs, so this will be very interesting to watch.  An offer to another QB would be very telling.

After a great senior season, Penix has seen increased recruiting interest, the biggest threat coming from Dan Mullen and the new staff at Florida.  Penix is scheduled to take an official visit to Gainesville this weekend, and although he does not yet have a Gators offer, one would have to think that’s likely coming.  USF has also stayed in contact throughout the season, and they can’t be written off with the strong season Charlie Strong had in Penix’s hometown of Tampa.  That said, Pruitt has already reached out to Penix (in contrast, apparently, to Martinez), and with an OV to Knoxville still available plus one of his recruiters Robert Gillespie remaining on staff, I like the Vols’ chances of keeping this commitment.

Grant has also had an outstanding season and was recently recognized for that effort with a 4th star from Rivals.  He’s been pretty solid, but is scheduled to take an OV to Virginia Tech on 12/15 so he’s not shut it down.  With the decommitment of LJ Dixon (more on him below) Grant is currently the lone RB in the class, so it’s important that the new staff solidify his standing.  Grant also has his OV to Knoxville still available.

Decommitments who Pruitt could possibly get back in the fold

Unfortunately, this list is not only relatively long but also includes many of the best players that committed to Butch Jones in this class.  However, for a variety of reasons, Coach Pruitt and his new staff have a real chance to get many of these players back in the fold.

OL Cade Mays

The crown jewel of most any class, we all know the story on Mays.  He’s a plug and play OL, especially at UT and especially next year at UT.  He’s a legacy who was committed to the Vols for two years and was the class’s biggest peer recruiter.  And now he’s not only decommitted but thought to be a lean to Clemson with UGA hot on the trail as well.  Mays is currently planning on making a final decision relatively soon, which won’t leave a new staff a lot of time to build a relationship.  However, new AD and former Big Fisherman Phillip Fulmer has made Cade his personal project, and longtime Vols fans know that this usually means a player ends up in Orange.  Fulmer is certainly leaning on his decades-long relationship with Cade’s father and VFL Kevin Mays, and it’s imperative that he, Coach Pruitt, and new OL Coach Will Friend win this battle.  They will be selling not only the legacy angle but also a fresh start to the program along with being paired up with fellow phenom Trey Smith.

WR Alontae Taylor

Taylor is another player who could likely make an instant impact in 2018.  He’s been on campus a ton over the last 18 months and is no doubt very familiar with Knoxville and the current players on the roster.  Taylor clearly wants to be a Vol – after initially putting out a Top 5 without UT, he’s now narrowed his choices to Tennessee, UGA (where he’s already OV’d), and Louisville.  He’ll be taking his OV to Knoxville this weekend and I expect Coach Pruitt to lock him down.

DE Dorian Gerald

Gerald was one of the commitments most tied to Butch and therefore was always going to be someone who would be less than solid if Jones were let go.  That said, he’s never formally decommitted, and he tweeted yesterday that he’s already had “good talks with Coach Pruitt.”  Gerald is an instant contributor at a DE position in need of talent and depth, so he’s likely to be a high priority for the new staff.  They’ll have to fight off Louisville (where he’ll OV this weekend), Texas Tech (OV’d 11/28), and South Carolina (his other finalist before he committed in the summer and his homestate school) among others.

DB Tanner Ingle

Ingle has “opened it up” and will OV to NCSU but made it clear he’s hoping to stick with UT depending on the new staff’s interest.  I’m a big fan of Ingle’s game – he’s an undersized sparkplug who makes plays all over the field and has been described as a “program player” by FSU’s 247 reporters.  As of this writing, I’m unaware of any contact between Ingle and the new staff, but I’m hopeful they make an effort here.

DB Jaycee Horn

Horn was always going to be one of the toughest commits to hold onto, and he decommitted shortly after Jones was let go.  However, he has been to campus quite a few times and likely feels at home in Knoxville.  The new staff will likely, IMO, be given a shot here, and he certainly knows Pruitt from his visits to Alabama, who recruited him throughout the summer.  UT still has tons of immediate playing time to sell, and with Horn not planning to sign until February they’ll have time.

WR Shocky Jacques-Louis

After a tremendous senior season, Jacques-Louis has seen increased interest from the likes of Ohio State and Michigan.  And though he decommitted in mid-November, he was quoted yesterday as saying he’d like to hear from the new staff.  He’s already OV’d to UT (side note awful move by the old staff), so a new staff would have to form a relationship via home visits.  We’ll see how hard they push here, but Shocky is an electric athlete at a position where the Vols could use an injection of speed and talent.

DB Trey Dean

I’m going against conventional wisdom here, as most people think Dean is very unlikely to give the Vols another shot after decommitting yesterday.  That said, he still has the opportunity to OV to Knoxville if he wants to, with two OV weekends between now and when he is scheduled to sign.  He’s currently supposed to visit UK this weekend (I mean, come on) and then UF on 12/15.  Bama is also in the mix after he OV’d there last weekend – and there’s the tie with Pruitt.  This also might depend on how hard Pruitt pushes, but I’m of the opinion there’s still a chance.

With plenty of other players on the board (coming in the next segment) and multiple new offers going out from the new staff as they capitalize on former relationships (also upcoming), the existing commitments give new coach Jeremy Pruitt a solid base on which he can build out this class.  It will be fascinating to see how many of the former commitments he can (or wants to) bring back and from there how he finishes out the class.  With the staff he’s building I have a lot of confidence Vols fans will be very happy.

Tennessee-Georgia recruiting preview: Massive targets in town for a massive game

It goes without saying that this weekend’s showdown with Georgia will go a long way in determining not just how the 2017 season goes but also how the trajectory of the Butch Jones Era at Tennessee will unfold.  It’s a huge game, plain and simple.  And while the 60 minutes between the white lines are incredibly important, the UGA game is also a showcase game for UT from a recruiting perspective: Checker Neyland, 102,455, honoring past greats including The GOAT (Peyton, come on).  And there will be a ton of high level recruits in attendance.  Let’s take a look at who will be there and where the Vols stand with each as we are now about 10 weeks from the early signing period and Butch and Co. sit with 23 public commitments and a Top 10 class.

2018 Commitments

Tennessee will have two commitments in town for official visits in QB Adrian Martinez and WR Shockey Jacques-Louis.  Martinez’s commitment is very solid and this will be a great chance for him to take in his first game and do some recruiting.  Jacques-Louis’s official visit comes at an interesting time, however.  A former Kentucky commitment, he took an official visit to Lexington last weekend to see the Wildcats become the latest team to give a W away to Florida.  So he’s clearly not 100% firm in his UT commitment.  And using an official visit this early, especially with a kid who is still looking around, is an interesting strategy, even for a Dececmber enrollee like Shockey.  Maybe the staff feels like they can lock him down this weekend.  Maybe they want to bring him in with his good friend and fellow playmaking South Florida WR Jeshaun Jones (more on him below) and try to get the two of them to (re)commit at the same time.  Either way, it seems likely that this is the last time Jacques-Louis will be on campus before he signs, so if the Vols want to land his signature they’ll have to hit a home run this weekend.

Georgia natives and stud DBs Trey Dean (a newly minted Under Armour All-American) and Jaycee Horn (he of the visits to Clemson, South Carolina, and Athens in successive weeks) are also scheduled to be there unofficially.  Both players are having outstanding seasons, and while it’s painfully obvious (but not unexpected) that Horn is keeping his options open, one would expect that Dean will see his recruitment heat up as hot as he wants it as the season progresses.  Needless to say getting both of these two back to campus (especially Dean on back to back weekends) and for what should be an atmosphere as good or better than they will see all season, is big.

While they haven’t been confirmed, I also expect most, if not all, of the nine in-state commitments and the four other Georgia-based commits to be in attendance.  Most were in Neyland for at least one of the prior two home games, and many of them were in Atlanta for the thrilling win over Georgia Tech.  I also expect 2019 in-state commitments TJ Sheffield (who was also in last weekend) and Cam Wynn to be there.

It’s always good to have commitments around on a big recruiting weekend, as it furthers the sense of family that Butch and his staff sell, helps families of recruits feel more comfortable (remember Jatavious Harris’s and Jaycee Horn’s mother hitting it off at Orange Carpet Day?), and of course it’s always helpful to the staff to have guys already in the boat leaning on uncommitted guys.

Uncommitted 2018 Targets – Official Visitors

OL Jerome Carvin: Arguably Tennessee’s biggest remaining target, literally and figuratively, Carvin taking his official visit this early in the cycle is interesting in a similar way to that of Jacques-Louis.  While Carvin seemed close to committing to the Vols in August, he decided to slow things down just a little and take some visits.  And while at that time Alabama was thought to be UT’s biggest competition, Mississippi State has positioned itself in that spot.  In fact, he was in attendance for State’s big win over LSU in Starkville a few weeks ago as an unofficial visitor and as of now intends to be back there at some point for an official visit.  So is this another risky move bringing in Carvin in September?  Or do the coaches know something and feel like they could get him to both publicly commit and also shut it down either while he’s in town or shortly thereafter?  Carvin would be a capper to an incredibly strong OL class and would also represent a nice coup for Jones to land a highly coveted player from the Memphis area.

WR Jeshaun Jones: The aforementioned South Florida WR is a really nice player who has been to campus before and really likes the Vols.  He’s also a guy who simply blew up an FSU camp in the late summer and earned a Seminole offer.  He’s smooth, has good size and deceptive speed/athleticism, and is a precise route runner.  As mentioned, he’s really close with Jacques-Louis and we all know this staff loves them some South Florida WRs.  Would he be a take if he wanted to jump in this weekend?  I think so, but with numbers so tight and a lot of other elite players on the board, I am not 100% positive.  He will be one to watch for sure.

DE Caleb Johnson: Another good player, at a position of need, who really likes the Vols.  He was one of those in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the game against Tech, and he’s been to campus before as well.  Johnson is having a really strong senior season and is also getting some more interest from UGA of late.  Johnson may represent Tennessee’s best chance to land another high-quality DE prospect.  However, with the Vols hanging around and (IMO) a real dark horse in the Adam Anderson race, I’m not sure they would take him right now.  That said, if the staff feels like they need to hedge their bets against losing at least one of the current DL class (remember, JUCO stud Dorian Gerald is scheduled to take at least one official visit, to hometown South Carolina, and D’Andre Litaker is looking hard at Louisville), Johnson would be a nice way to do so.

Uncommitted 2018 Targets – Unofficial Visitors

DE Adam Anderson – Anderson, teammate and close friend of UT commitment and fellow stud DE Jamarcus Chatman, is thought to be a long shot for the Vols.  Alabama, UGA, and to a certain extent Clemson are the presumed most-likely destinations.  That said, I think people are discounting the Vols at their own peril.  Anderson was on campus at least once this summer, was in Atlanta for the Tech game, and will now be in town again this weekend.  As mentioned, he is very close with Chatman, and the families are close as well.  I’d put the odds at him signing with the Vols at ~25% right now, but he’s shown enough interest to allow us to think he’ll be back for at least an official visit, and as long as the Vols keep swinging I think they’ll be there until the end.  Anderson is a game-changing type rush defensive end and would likely see snaps immediately here (and most places, really).  He’s worth pulling out all the stops.

LB/DE Richard Jibunor/LB Cam Jones: I’ve grouped these two together for a few reasons.   For one, both are tremendous athletes who could project at a couple of positions.  Secondly, while Cam Jones has long been thought a future LB (at least at Tennessee), Jibunor has been recruited by various schools at either LB or DE.  However, at 6’3″ and 206 pounds, I have started to think of him more and more as a LB prospect, and the fact that UT LB coach Tommy Thigpen is his primary recruiter is probably not 100% coincidence.  I’ve argued that with the addition of Matthew Flint (who is having a killer season), the Vols don’t need another LB.  However, they seem open to doing so, as most prominently evidenced by their recent pickup in attention with Jones.  Jones is potentially a very good player in his own right, and his close friendship with Carvin is worth considering.  That said, if the Vols decided they want another LB in the class and could land Jibunor and then another big time DE (as opposed to Jones as the LB and Jibunor or Caleb Johnson as the DE) that would be preferable in my opinion.  Jibunor certainly has a much better offer list, as UT is fighting Auburn and to a lesser extent UF for him while Jones hasn’t received that level of attention.  This weekend will likely go a long way in determining whether either, both, or neither end up in this class.

ATH Dashon Bussell: Dynamic local athlete who moved back to Knoxville this summer from the Midwest who is very high on the Vols as well as Iowa.  He’s been to each home game and was on campus for some fall practices as well.  Bussell has some mid-level SEC offers like UK, and if he continues his tremendous season so far for Knox Catholic he’ll probably see his offer list grow.  In a different year, he’d probably have a very committable offer, but as it is, given the WR/DB classes the Vols have put together so far, I think there’s a greater than 50% chance he doesn’t end up a Vol.  But, should attrition occur at either position things could change quickly.

This list is likely to expand in the next two days, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see some new names try to get to campus (Alabama DB Myles Mason has been mentioned, and he’s a good one) if only to see what should be a good game in a great atmosphere.

Future Prospects

This game will also be a showcase for the program in front of numerous 2019 and 2020 prospects.  One of the upsides of having an almost full 2018 class is that the staff has been able to do a ton of work with future classes, and it’s paid off not just with the three very good 2019 commitments but also with having a lot of high profile future prospects in attendance in Atlanta and also at the two previous home games.

For the UGA game, future prospects expected in include coveted 2019 players like CB Woodi Washington, OL Jackson Lampley, DB Jalen Perry, OL Darnell Wright, and OL Tanner Bowles.  2020 studs DL Tyler Barron and OL Tate Ratledge (from GA but from a family of Vol fans…kind of like Trevor Lawrence, ugh) are also scheduled to be there.  I expect this list to expand dramatically as the game gets closer.

Bottom Line

This is simply a huge weekend for Butch Jones and the Volunteer program.  Win here and the entire direction of the program changes, as you’re suddenly back in the SEC East race in a big way, have now established some dominance over an otherwise ascendant UGA program with a third win in a row, and set yourself up for a season that could still reach the upper limit of what even unreasonable fans could have hoped for.  It’s also a showcase weekend for the program: a chance to show elite level prospects from multiple classes what Neyland looks and sounds like when it’s rockin’, solidify and perhaps enhance an already tremendous 2018 class, and take another step with future classes.  Here’s hoping the Vols play their best game of the season and take home a W.

September 1: Dead period ends, 2019 recruiting begins in earnest

Today the 2017 college football season has already have kicked off, and Tennessee’s first game will be just three days away.  And while Butch Jones and his staff will surely be making final preparations to take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta, they will also be taking the next step toward building the future of the program.  September 1st is the first day that coaches can contact Class of 2019* prospects via phone and Twitter.  Staffs’ initial priorities are revealed by who is contacted when, and on the flip side prospects start the next phase of their recruitments.

*Let’s get it out of the way: Discussing the Class of 2019 on September 1, 2017 is crazy.  These kids are 15, maybe 16 years old. But that’s just how college football recruiting is now – compressed cycles and tons of exposure caused a multitude of factors, not the least of which are a billion dollar scouting/recruiting service industry and intense fan interest (you’re reading this, aren’t you?).  With that said…

With three commitments already, each of whom are 247Sports 4-stars, the 2019 class is already ranked #12 nationally.  For a variety of reasons, Tennessee sits in a very nice position with regard to this class, and looking forward has a chance to stack another great class on what’s going to be a blockbuster 2018 haul.

2018 Hay is Mostly in the Barn

As the 2017 season begins, the Vols are sitting with a Top 5 2018 class in the country and with 23 commitments.  Now, Butch Jones always seems to find room if he wants to sign an extra player or two, but assuming 25 is the limit for this class and even allowing for some attrition from the current commitment list, there simply isn’t a ton of recruiting left to do.  We all know the top targets for the last 2-3 spots: OL Jerome Carvin, another defensive end, and maybe WR Jeshaun Jones.   Of course, Tennessee’s staff will have to fight to hold onto many of their commitments, and that will take time and energy, but it’s simply not the same as trying to land 10+ more players over the course of the next five months.

What this means is that the UT staff will be able to focus on scouting, communicating with, and building relationships with 2019 prospects while many of its rivals are still working on 2018 players.  They’ll be able to spend more time figuring out who the decision makers are in each prospects recruitment.  More time standing on the sidelines on Friday nights.  And more time scouting and finding out exactly who they want to target.  They also get to use the upcoming game against Georgia Tech to host a bunch of 2019 prospects – top instate targets Joe Anderson, Trey Knox, Wesley Walker, as well as former commits Kendrell Scurry and Adonis Otey are among those who plan to attend.

The added benefit is that Tennessee’s staff, with multiple members who are new since NSD 2017, will have that much more time to do any catch up with the class of 2019.  And given this new staff is already showing much improved results on the trail over the previous one, this bodes very well.

In-state Class is Loaded Again

According to 247Sports, the state of Tennessee has 20 4-stars in the 2019 class, and Vols commits TJ Sheffield and Cameron Wynn are two of them.  Importantly, while there was some talk earlier in the year that the 2019 class on both sides of the line of scrimmage wouldn’t be anywhere near the 2018 class, six of those 20 4-stars are defensive linemen – while only one is an offensive lineman, it’s Vols legacy Jackson Lampley who is pretty close to a lock in my opinion.  Also, this list of 4-stars doesn’t include other prospects whom several scouts are incredibly high on, including linemen Joseph Honeysucker and Tymon Mitchell.

And despite periodic incursions from the likes of Ohio State and FSU (among other blue bloods who recruit nationally), Butch Jones and Co. have proven their ability to bring the lion’s share of the elite in-state talent to Knoxville.  Look no further than the 2018 class, which includes nine in-state commitments with at least one more likely to come, and with only two prospects the Vols would have liked having committed elsewhere (RB Master Teague and OL Max Wray).

For Tennessee, in-state recruiting success is a virtuous cycle: As the Vols sign more and more talent inside the state’s borders, the ties between Knoxville and the rest of the state deepen.  Future prospects see their older friends go to UT and succeed.  High school coaches do the same with their players.  And assistants like OL coach Walt Wells, who seemingly knows every person connected to high school football in the state, strengthen those relationships even more.  And as the state continues to churn out more and more elite talent every year, Tennessee can rely more and more on that talent to form the bulk of big time recruiting classes.

Combining the two points above about being ahead of the game and the state being loaded in 2019, see below the Top 20 players in the state of TN for 2019 and how many times they’ve been on campus*.  It’s extraordinary how good of a job at getting the best players in the state on campus the staff has done, and we’re still almost 18 months away from NSD 2019.

*Just the ones I know of

247 TN Rank Name POS # UT Visits
1 Anderson DL 6*
2 Hampton DB 0
3 Knox WR 2*
4 Wilhoitte WR 5
5 Scurry WR 4*
6 Gregory DL 0
7 Izuchuku DL 4
8 Nash WR 1
9 Otey DB 7*
10 Lampley OL 1
11 Walker CB 4*
12 SHEFFIELD WR 2
13 Norton DL 1
14 Gray RB 1
15 Hopper DL 1
16 Washington DB 1
17 WYNN WR 4
18 Watkins DB 5
19 Hannah LB 1
20 Williams DL 2
* Scheduled to attend GT game in ATL

Other 247 Sports 4-stars to watch out for right off the bat include DL Zacch Pickens from SC (#59 overall); OL Darnell Wright from WV (#86 overall); DB Joseph Charleston from GA (#150 overall); RB Derrian Brown from GA (#157 overall); and WR Ramel Keyton from GA (#178 overall).  All of these guys are elite prospects and have been to campus at least once already, and in fact Keyton, who has seen his recruitment explode this summer, named the Vols his leader as recently as late June.  The Vols have a family tie with Charleston in that his brother is a current player on the Tennessee Baseball team, and Derrian Brown comes from the Buford program that has produced current Vols Austin Smith (a starter on Monday night at SAM LB) and Quay Picou, as well as 2018 RB commit and Brown’s teammate, Anthony Grant.

Florida Investments Will Continue to Pay Dividends

We hit on this back in June, but Butch Jones has made a big investment in recruiting in Florida, in terms of his staff, allocation of resources, and absolute numbers of Floridians on the roster.  After signing five players from Florida in the class of 2016, Butch Jones and Co. followed that up by signing seven Floridians in 2017.  That’s 30% of the last two signing classes from the Sunshine State.  So far for the class of 2018, the Vols have four Florida natives on the commitment list: QB Michal Penix, DBs Tanner Ingle and Brandon Cross, and WR Shocky Jacques-Louis.  They are still targeting DE Kayode Oladele and WR Jeshaun Jones as well.

Not surprisingly, the state of Florida is once again loaded in 2019, with 40 247Sports 4-stars.  And just like in Tennessee, those relationships continue to get stronger, allowing the Vols to dip into the Sunshine State and take more and better players every year.  Obviously, recruiting in Florida is a different animal than in your own state, and Florida is uniquely difficult because it has one powerhouse program in Florida State and two other programs in major conferences in the University of Florida and the University of Miami.  But Butch Jones has been succeeding in the state, particularly recently, and with another year (and the extra time discussed above) for OC Larry Scott and WR coach Kevin Beard to recruit down there on behalf of the Vols, that success should only continue.  Especially when you don’t have to have that many because your own state is providing you with a large chunk of your class.  It doesn’t hurt, of course, that the Florida Gators program is currently imploding, with more than 10% of the team suspended for the opener (as of this writing…could be more by the minute) for defrauding the university and coach Jim McElwain handing out 4th and 5th chances like they grow on a tree just outside the football complex.

*Caveats: nine are from IMG, so most are not true Floridians; UF has eight commits, UM has four and FSU has three.

Momentum and Winning on the Field

These are two different things.  While the Vols clearly have momentum on the recruiting trail, the 2017 season will go a long way toward determining the tenure of Butch Jones and his staff at Tennessee.  Exceed relatively modest expectations (i.e., beat 1-2 of UF/UGA/Bama/LSU and win the SEC East) and Butch is likely the coach here as long as he wants to be.  With the way he’s already recruiting, he could be set up to take Tennessee to that mythical “next level.”  Win 7-8 regular season games and he’s likely safe, ensuring that this outstanding 2018 class stays largely intact and the staff remains.  Anything less than that though, and all bets are off – best case is a coach on a very hot seat heading into the 2018 season, which will be used against him to no end; worst case AD John Currie cuts bait and we start over.  I’m of the opinion that the latter scenario is by far the least likely, but the Vols absolutely have to prove it on the field starting Monday.

It goes without saying that recruiting is the lifeblood of a football program, and fortunately there aren’t many coaches in the country as passionate about it and as good at it as Butch Jones.  Combine that with a killer staff, a competitive advantage from getting their work done on the previous class, a state churning out unprecedented numbers of blue chip talent, and investments in another talent-rich state that are paying off.  There’s obviously a ton of time between now and NSD 2019, but the Vols are off to a great start.  And the staff has an opportunity to leverage several advantages – some they’ve created and some that are systemic – to bring in another big time class in 2019.

Is Florida’s current recruiting class a house of cards?

 

Despite backing his way into two SEC East titles (and a 46-141 point differential vs. FSU and Bama to end each of those seasons, along with a 41-7 beat down at the hands of Michigan in his first bowl game), Florida Coach Jim McElwain has recruited incredibly poorly relative to both what Gators fans had grown accustomed as well as his SEC rivals.

Here’s a look at McElwain’s three UF classes* – the 2015 class was a stub year as he was hired in late December/early January.  A combination of low rankings, below-capacity numbers, and attrition has left UF devoid of elite level talent on both sides of the ball, even on defense where UF has even up until last season been an NFL farm club:

2015: Ranked 21st nationally with 20 signees.  Of those, #5/#8/#10 are all off the team, while #4 (Antonio Callaway) has been in trouble more times than the Dukes of Hazzard and two others were part of the group involved in committing fraud with school funds

2016: Ranked 12th nationally with 25 signees.  Of those, #6 is a little-used JUCO who is currently 4th string and #9 is in legal trouble.

2017: Ranked 11th nationally with 23 signees.  Of those, four of them have been suspended already, including #2 and #8.

*247 Sports rankings

That said, while spending time insisting he wasn’t posing naked with sharks this spring he has also managed to assemble the nation’s #7 overall class heading into the 2017 football season.  That ranking, along with some of the high profile prospects that the current class consists of, has at least temporarily alleviated some of the concerns that many Florida fans have had about McElwain’s recruiting prowess, or lack thereof.  The Gators are also contenders for some other very good players that could improve not only the ranking but also the true quality of the class.  The current ranking does not include two FBS transfers that will count as part of this class – DT Marlon Dunlap from UNC and OT Jean Delance from Texas.  Both of them will be a part of the 2017 roster but won’t be eligible until the 2018 season.  These guys have two things in common: 1) they both come from relatively high level programs, and 2) neither of them have accomplished anything in their careers to-date, hence the transfers.  Nevertheless, they are already on campus and both will have a chance to be relatively instant contributors from this class.

However, in my opinion this Florida recruiting class as it stands is extremely vulnerable to a poor showing on the field, especially if their offense struggles yet again and a defensive fall-off reveals that the last two seasons’ success were entirely due to Will Muschamp’s leftover NFL talent.  Here’s why:  one would think that given the level of talent in the state of Florida a highly-ranked Gators class would be filled with Sunshine State prospects, and to a degree that’s true – 11 of the 17 current commitments are Floridians.  Importantly though, five of the top eight ranked commitments are from out of state.  This includes one from CA (#1 – QB Matt Corral, who if he gets his act together will see West Coast powers come calling), one from LA (#3 – WR Jamarr Chase, who LSU absolutely won’t give up on), one from GA (#5 – RB Damon Pierce) and two from the Northeast.  Further, three of the Floridians are from Miami, leaving them vulnerable to the Hurricanes, especially if Mark Richt and Co. have a strong season.  Finally, their #2 recruit – WR Jacob Copeland – is coveted by Alabama, who has very recent success in the state of Florida, specifically with WRs Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley.  This class is simply not set up to withstand the negative recruiting that would come with a bad season and all of the legitimate questions that would be raised about McElwain and the direction of the program by the media, fans, and opposing coaches.

Contrast that with Tennessee’s current class, in which six of the top nine ranked players are from the state of Tennessee and more than half the class will be early enrollees.  That’s a class built to last from here until National Signing Day (or December, for all of those January enrollees and many of the others who intend to sign with the Vols in the early signing period).

I’m of the opinion that this is the season where the NFL talent drain, and McElwain’s inability to backfill it with anything approximating similar talent (not to mention the suspensions and lack of accountability in this program) will finally show up.  The Gators have had double-digit NFL draftees in total after the last two seasons alone, and the current roster doesn’t have anything near that.  Looking at their schedule there are upwards of seven very losable games: Michigan, Tennessee, LSU, Texas A&M, UGA, @South Carolina, and FSU.  And that doesn’t even account for a possible upset from the likes of @Kentucky, Vandy, or @Missouri – none of the aforementioned seven games will see the Gators favored by more than 4-5 points, and they are underdogs to Michigan and will be to FSU, at the least.  Should the QB situation not magically fix itself like some national pundits seem to think it will; should the stink of a program rife with internal issues and 4th and 5th chances manifest itself; should injuries strike their perilously thin OL, DT, and LB positions; should their upwards of four true freshmen in the secondary two-deep not be ready for prime time and be ready early – should any small combination of these things happen the Gators will likely have a very poor season.  And if that happens, expect to see current Gators commitments, especially those from out of state and from Miami, look hard at their other options.  Their commitment list would look a lot different than it does now, and not in a good way (unless you’re a Vols fan).

At defensive end, should the Vols go for plug and play instead of upside?

The need for one more defensive end in this class, and how the Vols address that need, is something that’s been discussed in this space quite a bit.  And while I’ve made the case for a guy with unlimited upside but who is a ways from contributing, there’s a case to be made at the opposite end of the spectrum.  If Tennessee were to go the route of someone who could contribute right away, the guy I would focus on is someone who so far has been little discussed: JUCO product Azur Kamara.

Who is Azur Kamara?

Besides having a last name that will always make Tennessee fans smile, Kamara is a very intriguing prospect in his own right.  He’s a big kid (6’6, 240) with speed who has been productive in each of his stops so far.  In high school he set the Arizona high school record with 25 sacks his senior season, but grades forced him to go the JUCO route.  And last season at Arizona Western CC, he had eight sacks.

He’s also an early enrollee, which means he’s not only going to start the 2018 season two years out of high school, he’ll also have a spring practice under his belt to adjust to the college game and learn the playbook.  He’d be a guy you’d expect to immediately compete for a starting job and at worst be part of the regular rotation.

Where does Kamara’s recruitment stand?

Kamara was initially looking to make a summer decision, but as his recruitment has heated up those plans have changed a bit.  He’s already taken official visits to Louisville and Iowa State, and he had plans to visit Utah in September and make a decision after that.  However, he received offers from Florida State, Oklahoma State and Ole Miss to go along with the Tennessee offer that came in the spring, and all of this attention has caused him to slow things down.  All of a sudden this has the makings of a much more high profile recruitment.

As of now FSU, OSU, and the Vols are in line for the remaining three official visits, with the trip to Knoxville, though not yet set, likely to occur in September or October.

The Vols do have a link to Arizona Western, as current defensive GA Jon Shalala was the OL coach for 11 months before coming to Knoxville.  And of course current Vols starting defensive end Jonathan Kongbo came from Arizona Western as well, so there are a handful of ties.  Kongbo’s status as a starter probably is a great selling point here, and if he were to jump out of the gates strongly that couldn’t hurt, either.  However, it should be noted that Louisville just received commitments from a couple of his AWCC teammates, so they will likely be helping the Cardinals in this recruitment.

Which Direction Do the Vols Go?

Ultimately the Vols will have to decide which direction they want to take with the last defensive end spot.  And that decision is likely to come down to a lot of factors – as The Dude would say, lotta ins, lotta outs here:

  1. How do the current DEs on the roster perform, especially early in the season? For example, does Jonathan Kongbo start the season playing like the former 5-star and #1 JUCO prospect he is, setting himself up for a possible early jump to the NFL?  Because in that case the staff has a different 2018 roster to think about.  Conversely, do freshmen like Deandre Johnson or Matthew Butler look like future SEC stars, in which case the need for another instant impact DE is a lot less pressing?  In a worst case scenario, do none of the DEs play well, such that the staff feels like they need more immediate help in 2018?
  2. Another factor is the status of Dorian Gerald, a current jewel of the class and an expected immediate contributor in 2018 as a JUCO early enrollee. While Gerald maintains he is 100% committed to the Vols, not only are other schools still after him, he’s also actually in the process of setting up official visits to places like Louisville (less of a threat) and South Carolina (the home-state school).  The Vols definitely have to have a contingency plan were he to bolt.
  3. Finally, depending on how the season goes, we may see the defensive end board expand to include no-brainer studs that aren’t currently strongly considering the Vols. Someone like Adam Anderson, who has been to campus and is being recruited hard by good friend and UT commit Jamarcus Chatman, or a guy like UGA commitment Azeez Ojulari could reignite their interest in the Vols, especially if UGA struggles on the field again in Year 2 for Kirby Smart.

As we’ve discussed, I like prospects like Caleb Kelly, Caleb Johnson, and Andrew Johnson just fine.  They seem like likely SEC contributors but not likely NFL prospects – kind of like Corey Vereen – and there is nothing wrong with that.  But in my opinion, the DE roster has enough low-ceiling/high floor players.  To me, if they indeed are going to add another DE in this class, the staff should be targeting upside now that they’ll have fixed the numbers (and talent issue) at the position.

There is obviously the issue of how interested Kamara and any of the other remaining DEs on the board actually are in Tennessee.  With Kamara, if he’s got a committable offer from a place like FSU it’s not like UT can simply call him up and land him.  They would need to recruit him very hard.

Interestingly, Oladele (who is also an early enrollee) is scheduled to make his official visit for the UGA game in late September, which could coincide with Kamara’s official visit.  That should mean that the staff has a pretty good idea of what they think the 2018 DE roster is going to look like, both in terms of numbers and in terms of talent.  It also means that they might have to make a decision on how they want to handle the spot if either/both of Oladele and Kamara want to commit.

The best case scenario is that the Vols are 4-0 when the Dawgs come to Knoxville, the DEs have played well and shown promise for the future, and that the on-field success has created increased interest in some of the elite DEs mentioned above.  While it can be difficult, it’s always good to have options, and the more you win the more options you have.  How the staff handles those possible options at the DE position in particular will be fascinating to watch.

 

 

Vols playing Georgia Tech for one reason: Recruiting

The Vols are two weeks out from the season opener, a nationally televised contest against Georgia Tech in the brand new Mercedes Benz Dome in Atlanta.  And while having the national attention that comes with the game, especially as the only game on Labor Day evening, is attractive, many including myself have questioned the idea of playing a team like Tech at all.  From their unique triple option offense, preparation for which yields no down-the-road benefits, to their dangerous blocking schemes that put your defensive line at risk of injury, there are a lot of downsides to playing the Yellow Jackets.  So why play this game at all?

Three very important reasons: 1. Recruiting. 2. Recruiting.  3. Recruiting.

The state of Georgia is consistently one of the best in the country when it comes to producing high level talent, and for years the Vols have had a lot of success recruiting the Peach State.  Team 121 has fourteen scholarship players from the Peach State on the roster, and the Class of 2018 already boasts 5 commitments from Georgians, each of whom are big time prospects.

As part of the neutral site game, the Vols will be able to provide tickets (though not have contact with) to around 100 prospects and their families.  For the current class, it’s a chance to show your current committed players and their families what their future “home” looks like and to further solidify the positive feelings that led to those commitments.  With 2018 GA prospects the Vols are still recruiting, it’s a chance for Tennessee to show off in an unofficial capacity and get an extra “visit” from those players and then hopefully parlay that into at least one unofficial visit for a game in Neyland.  For prospects in the classes of 2019 and beyond, it’s a chance for Butch and Co. to kick off relationships with players and show them and their families what Tennessee Football is all about.

Below are the players I think the Vols will be targeting to get to The Dome:

Current 2018 commitments from Georgia

  • RB Anthony Grant (confirmed attendee)
  • RB LJ Dixon
  • WR Jatavious Harris
  • DL Jamarcus Chatman
  • S Trey Dean

2018 Uncommitted* Prospects

  • CB Jaycee Horn
  • DE Caleb Johnson
  • DE Andrew Johnson
  • DE Caleb Kelly
  • DE Richard Jibunor
  • DE Adam Anderson (a long shot, but he’s been to Knoxville this summer and is best friends with Chatman)

*I imagine the Vols will try to get guys committed elsewhere to come, like Azeez Ojulari (UGA), Caleb Tannor (UGA), and Tobe Umerah (Stanford).  Can’t hurt…

Horn and Jibunor are two players in particular who Tennessee is fighting very hard for, both of whom the Vols are in two-team races for, and both of whom are targeting September decisions.  If they can get those two to come for this game and then get at least an unofficial visit for a game in Neyland (Indiana State or UGA are the two home games in September) that would go a very long way.

Class of 2019

The Georgia class of 2019 is widely considered to be one of the best in the state in recent memory, and the Vols have already made inroads with a lot of top prospects.  In particular, elite players the Vols would love to see in the Dome are RB Derrian Brown (Anthony Grant’s teammate), WR Ramel Keyton, and S Joseph Charleston (the younger brother of current Tennessee baseball player Jay Charleston).  All of these prospects have been to Knoxville at least once and have a great deal of interest in Tennessee.

I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Tennessee do major outreach with some of the top local high school programs, even if the Vols aren’t currently in the running for their respective top players, as a way to engender goodwill with those coaches and administrators.  That’s another way to use this game as a long-term building block for recruiting in this state, and as we know Butch Jones never misses a chance to get a leg up in recruiting.

Bottom line: This is a huge opportunity to get your program in front of Atlanta-area prospects in a very unique way.  I expect there to be a Vol Walk like we saw last year in Bristol, to have about 75% of the stadium in Big Orange, and for the Vols to win convincingly against Tech.  It should be a great atmosphere and should pay dividends for the Vols with recruits in the current class as well as 2019 and beyond.  That’s why you play the game, now the Vols have to execute on and off the field.  I’m confident they will.

 

How does adding a scholarship punter impact the rest of the Class of 2018 for the Vols?

With the commitment of Under Armour All-American Punter Paxton Brooks, the Vols are now up to 21 public commitments. With numbers tight already and a lot of good players left on the board in mid-August, some might be surprised to see Tennessee use a scholarship on a punter. But there shouldn’t really be any surprise when you consider Butch Jones’s Beamer-esque focus on special teams and the success he’s had with punters in particular in his relatively short tenure at Tennessee.

While they don’t get the publicity of the Peyton Mannings and now Derek Barnetts, UT had FOUR of its former punters in the NFL last season – Dustin and Britton Colquitt, of course, along with the two Butch Jones alums in Michael Palardy (now in a training camp battle in Carolina) and Matt Darr (in his third season with Miami). Trevor Daniel will be a senior this season and is likely to continue the trend. Brooks will be competing with a handful of walk-ons starting in 2018 and will be given every chance to win the job right off the bat.

Ramifications on the 2018 Recruiting Class

With approximately four spots remaining in the 2018 class – barring attrition, of course – here are five takeaways we can glean from Butch deciding to bring on a punter.

1. No tight end in this class

Although things have been trending away from Tennessee with its top two (and arguably only) tight ends on the board in Tommy Tremble and James Mitchell, I think it’s safe to say that there won’t be another tight end in this class to go with current commitment Jacob Warren. And with the emergence of freshman Latrell Bumphus in fall camp as a future star to go with fellow projected 2018 roster tight ends Warren, Eli Wolf, Austin Pope, and James Brown (not to mention a rumored position change – odds are its freshman Princeton Fant, aka Jason Croom 2.0), the spot is in good hands.

2. Only one more receiver

It’s a virtual certainty that UT won’t have room for more than one wide receiver. While some have speculated that there was already just one spot left for a WR, there has also been speculation that UT could try to find room for two elite players. And with fellow South Floridians Shocky Jacques-Louis and Jeshaun Jones both really liking the Vols, that seemed like a possibility until last night. We’ll get into a comparison of those two prospects at another time, but suffice it to say that it is first-come, first-served at this point, because as of right now there just doesn’t appear to be room for both.

3. No second linebacker

This move also likely closes the door on taking a second linebacker in this class (cough*Cam Jones*cough).  As we wrote about just a few days before he committed, current Vols linebacker commitment Matthew Flint is an outstanding prospect and a great fit for what Tennessee wants at the position. And while Jones is a nice prospect in his own right, the numbers just aren’t going to work out for him, both in terms of availability in this class as well as need on the roster with a projected 10 linebackers in 2018.

4. There’s still room for OL Jerome Carvin and CB Jaycee Horn

One thing that hasn’t changed is that the Vols are all in on offensive lineman Jerome Carvin and cornerback Jaycee Horn. Barring something incredibly unforeseen, those two have spots in this class whenever they want them. Horn is expected to make a September decision while Carvin recently postponed his commitment – one that was supposed to take place on Wednesday and likely would have been good news for the Vols. Tennessee is trending with Horn and remains the heavy favorite for Carvin despite the delay in his public announcement. Interestingly, both also really like Alabama and while the Tide has heavily recruited them at this point, neither appear to be takes for Alabama.

5. There’s still room for one more defensive end

The other thing that hasn’t changed is Tennessee’s desire to add one more defensive end. With Azeez Ojulari committing to Georgia on Thursday and Adam Anderson continuing to look like a long shot, the Vols’ defensive end board doesn’t look any different than it did when we looked at it just over a week ago. And I’m still a big fan of high floor project/prospect Kayode Oladele, who recently set his official visit to Knoxville for the September 30 game against Georgia. What is also certain is that the Vols will need to continue to recruit JUCO stud Dorian Gerald, who is one of the jewels of the class and a plug-and-play rotation guy (at worst) in 2018. He’s going to take some other official visits, and home state South Carolina won’t give up on him until he sits in his first class in Ayres Hall in January, 2018.  My guess is that the same goes for the other out-of-state defensive line commitment Jamarcus Chatman. Therefore, Tennessee will continue to recruit a bunch of defensive ends and will likely expand the board during the season as more prospects emerge. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Vols look to the JUCO ranks again if they can find another instant impact prospect, especially if a guy like Jonathan Kongbo has a big season and flirts with an early entry to the NFL.

First week of NFL preseason offers glimpse of Vols’ future

After being shut out of the previous few NFL Drafts in an historic drought, the Vols broke through in a big way in 2017.  Headlined by first-rounder Derek Barnett to the Eagles, a total of six Volunteers were drafted.  In addition, two other prominent seniors in tight end Jason Croom (Buffalo Bills) and defensive end Latroy Lewis (Oakland Raiders) were signed to UDFA contracts, and since then cornerback Malik Foreman has signed with the New Orleans Saints.

This is a big deal for Butch Jones, as this was his first senior/draft-eligible junior class to be up for the NFL Draft.  The lack of Vols drafted has certainly been used against Butch and Tennessee on the recruiting trail, and frankly there was not much Jones could say or really do about it.  The success he’s had in dramatically upgrading the talent on the Vols roster in the face of this is even more astounding.

As it should have, the UT football program made a very big deal on social media and with recruits about the results of the 2017 NFL Draft.  You’ve already heard 2018 running back recruits talk about being “the next Alvin Kamara” and more than one defensive end prospect talk about how Derek Barnett is his role model.  And of course Josh Dobbs an official Torchbearer  and an ambassador of the program due to both his on and off the field exploits – he should be a role model that Butch holds up when recruiting similarly academic-minded prospects.

But while getting guys drafted is a big deal, the performances of your NFL alumni, especially guys newly in the League, can be leveraged even more.  And if the first week of the NFL Preseason is any indication there is going to be a lot to promote starting this season.

Obviously when your first-round pick dominates in his NFL debut to the tune of two sacks that’s going to generate a ton of headlines, and that’s exactly what Derek Barnett did.  But Kamara showed out as well as the starter for the Saints, and Josh Malone scored a touchdown in his debut with the Bengals. Dobbs made a highly-publicized start for the Steelers, and he settled in after a rough start and showed that he’s got the tools to be an NFL QB.  Jalen Reeves-Maybin led the Lions in tackles in his debut, and LaTroy Lewis looks highly likely to make the Raiders’ active roster after a very good camp and a two-sack opening night of his own.

Coming off back-to-back nine-win and Top 25 seasons and with three bowl wins in a row, Butch and Tennessee have a lot to sell on the recruiting trail in terms of being a blue-chip program back on the rise after a relatively brief drop during the tenure of [REDACTED].  But in the end, what kids want is to make it to the NFL, and before this season no matter how good of a salesman Butch was, he didn’t have that to sell.  As schools like Alabama and Ohio State and Florida State show you, selling on-field success and a platform to the NFL are linked, as of course the programs with the most future NFL talent are the ones consistently competing for national championships.  The good news is that now Butch CAN sell the NFL dream as well as an improved program.  And with some 2017 seniors and several potential NFL early-entrants (who you never want to lose but are the sign of a team stocked with talent) he should have more to sell next summer as well.  We should expect him to sell the heck out of it starting immediately and it should start to yield results beginning with the 2018 class.

2017 seniors with the best chances of being drafted

  • TE Ethan Wolf
  • OL Jashon Robertson
  • OL Brett Kendrick
  • CB Justin Martin
  • CB Shaq Wiggins
  • S Todd Kelly

2017 potential early entrants

  • RB John Kelly
  • WR Jauan Jennings
  • DL Kahlil McKenzie
  • DL Shy Tuttle
  • DL Jonathan Kongbo
  • LB Darren Kirkland Jr

Vols should look for upside with last DE spot just like they did at OL with Tanner Antonutti

With 20 commitments and a Top 5 nationally-ranked class, the Vols still have a handful of needs to address.  And even though the commitment list already includes a group of five defensive linemen with a diverse set of both sizes and skill sets, another pure rush defensive end is foremost among those remaining needs.

Guys like Adam Anderson, Azeez Ojulari, and Alabama commitment Jordan Davis are at the top of Tennessee’s wish list, but both Anderson and Ojulari are at this time thought to be Georgia leans and Davis looks to be solid in his pledge to the Tide.  Therefore, UT is looking at another group of defensive ends to fill that last spot, among them fellow Georgians Caleb Johnson, Caleb Kelly, and Andrew Johnson. The three Peach State natives are all solid prospects with nice offer lists, and all have been to Knoxville this spring/summer.  Caleb Johnson in particular seems to be very high on the Vols, and Georgia and Florida are in the mix there as well.  But it’s Floridian (by way of Nigeria…hat tip to Volquest’s Austin Price) Kayode Oladele that I think the staff should be focused on for the last spot.

Why Oladele?

Interestingly, while DE is a definite question mark headed into 2017 due to the lack of experience, in 2018 and beyond the position will have experience, talent, and a lot of bodies.  Below are the returning DEs in 2018:

  • Jonathan Kongbo
  • Darrell Taylor
  • Kyle Phillips
  • Deandre Johnson
  • Ryan Thaxton
  • Jaquan Blakely

There are of course some variables there, including the potential for any of Kongbo/Taylor/Phillips to leave early for the NFL if they have a big year in 2017.  On the flip side, the list also leaves out guys like LB/DE Austin Smith, who could be a pass-rushing specialist starting this season, as well as true freshman Matthew Butler, who is likely to be a guy who situationally shifts inside and outside as long as he doesn’t get too big.

That list also doesn’t include 2018 DE commitments Dorian Gerald (a plug and play JUCO early enrollee); Derek Barnett look-alike Jamarcus Chatman; and erstwhile DE and 5-star stud Greg Emerson.  With all of those talented players, there just isn’t going to be a need for the sixth DL in this class to get on the field and contribute immediately.

And that’s where Oladele comes in. He’s the ultimate high ceiling prospect, exactly the kind of kid the staff should be targeting for its last DL spot in the class.  Similarly to the Vols’ situation at OL, where their depth and talent allowed them to take a long-term prospect with massive upside in Tanner Antonutti, Tennessee can afford to roll the dice on a guy like Oladele who has NFL potential at DE.

He is without a doubt very raw, having only played football for one year, and he’s got a ways to go in terms of technique and just knowing how to play the game.  However, Oladele fits the prototype for edge rushers. He has elite length and burst, superior quickness, and is a physical specimen that looks like he’s been in a college weight room for a few years already.

He also impressed industry scouts at camps this spring with how far he has come. At a Rivals camp in March, industry scouts noted that Oladele had made big time strides in technique since the last time they had seen him.  He followed that up by being a top performer at a Miami Hurricanes camp in June and then earned an Auburn offer with a strong performance at their camp in July. He also worked out with Coach Hoke in Knoxville In July despite already having a Vols offer and impressed the veteran DL guru.  So while he is likely a ways away from being ready to contribute in the SEC, the fact that he’s already improving is a very good sign.  Finally, he’s an early enrollee, so not only is he by definition a strong student but he’ll be able to get a jump start on that development with 15 spring practices before his freshman season.

Where does Oladele’s recruitment stand?

Oladele just named a Top 5 of UT, FSU, Auburn, UGA, and Ole Miss.  I don’t see it with FSU, and if he ends up at Ole Miss it will be because neither of UT/UGA/AU were willing to take him, which I don’t see happening.  So to me it’s a three-team race.  Furthering that thought is that he’s already set official visits for Tennessee (September 30 for the UGA game) and Auburn.  I believe he will take one to UGA, too, though it hasn’t yet been set.

Notably, where Auburn might have a slight advantage is that they already have two Nigerian natives on the roster — offensive tackles Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and Prince Sammons.  This is helping the Tigers out with fellow Nigerian and Vols target Richard Jibunor out of GA, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Auburn pushes that connection with Oladele as well.

Given his lack of polish, some teams may be waiting to see how he looks on the field this fall.  And UGA in particular not only lead for Anderson and Ojulari (along with DE commitment Caleb Tannor), but they also need guys who can play immediately.  So the Dawgs might not be ready to take him soon.  That may give one of Tennesse/Auburn (whose DE situation I’m not up to date on) a chance to get a leg up by pushing earlier than that.  Whether the Vols staff does that or not is to be determined.

To be clear, I think the aforementioned Johnsons (Caleb and Andrew) Kelly are all very good prospects whose respective offer lists tell you they can likely play in the SEC.  However, none of them have the ceiling to be (in my opinion) a high-round NFL draft pick like Oladele does.  That said, their respective floors might be higher than Oladele’s because they aren’t anywhere near as raw.  But given what the Vols have returning at DE in 2018 and beyond, to go with their very strong 2018 DL commitments, I would push hard for Oladele and his upside to cap off the class.