Author Archives: DylanVol

Tennessee Vols recruiting: Two linebackers or Flint vs Jones?

There’s been a lot of talk about the linebacker position in the class of 2018, as the Vols have yet to land a player there.  Questions abound:

Should the Vols take more than one linebacker in 2018?

The argument for taking more than one LB in this class is that, while there is some young talent on the roster (and there is no doubt that’s true for returnees, but early returns on class of 2017 have also been strong), last season proved that there just isn’t enough top-end talent, especially if injuries strike like they did in 2016.  So, the idea is to stockpile as many talented players as you can, just as you would at any position.

The argument against taking more than one LB in this class is that not only do you have a large number of LBs on the roster right now and even into at least 2018, but Tennessee and college football in general is moving to a 4-2-5 base defense, meaning there are fewer and fewer linebacker spots on a roster. That nickel base also allows a creative defensive coordinator like Bob Shoop to use dynamic talents like freshman Maleik Gray in hybrid roles where he can technically function as a nickelback or a safety but spend most of his time wreaking havoc in the box.

My take

I lean toward the argument of taking just one linebacker. Not only do I think the LB talent on the roster leans strongly toward the young side, the idea that you just don’t need that many LBs anymore rings true to me.  I also think there are more pressing needs on the roster, and every spot is valuable.  Hopefully, young players like returnees Quart’e Sapp and Daniel Bituli, along with a handful of freshmen like Shanon Reid and Will Ignont, will perform well enough to make the staff feel good about the stable they have already assembled.

If the Vols are only taking one LB in this class, who should they target?

When it comes to individual players in this class, I’ve been an advocate for a heavy pursuit of Xavier Peters from Ohio. To me, he looks like an elite talent that due to Ohio State filling up at the position (and perhaps his potential academic/off-field issues — attitude, not character per se) is “landable.” However, to date the Vols have not pushed, and he is currently committed to Kentucky. The two LBs remaining on the board at this point are Matthew Flint from Alabama and in-state product Cam Jones from the suburbs of Memphis.  By all accounts, the Vols really like both of them and would be willing to take the first one that jumps in the boat.

What’s interesting about these two is that despite being the two players from which Tennessee will likely land its one LB in the class, they are vastly different prospects.  While Flint is on the smaller side at around 6’1″, 205 pounds and fits the type of LB who the Vols have recruited a lot of over the last few classes, Jones is a heavier kid and measures in around 6’4″. Jones would easily be the tallest LB on the roster were he to sign with Tennessee.  Flint’s game is speed and athleticism – he’s been clocked at sub 4.5 at multiple camps, and he showed out at a Rivals camp this spring with performances in SPARQ-type measurements (high jump, shuttle, etc.) that were comparable to much more highly ranked players at multiple positions.

Cam is no slouch either – watching his film (as an amateur, mind you) to me it is incredibly impressive how a kid his size moves so well side-to-side while at the same time playing a bunch of different positions, from WR to DE to KR to LB.  He has the potential to be a monster, for sure.  But he’s less experienced as an actual LB than Flint is, so to a degree you’re projecting him at LB more than knowing he can actually play the position.

Flint’s offer list is headlined by both Auburn and Ole Miss, markedly better than Jones, who is choosing between the Vols, Missouri, and Group of Five Memphis State. He also practices and plays against materially better competition than Jones does. Making matters more interesting, Jones is not only an in-state prospect (from the Memphis area that the Vols would love to make more headway in, no less), he’s also a legacy; Cam’s brother Laron Harris played DL for the Vols in the early-mid 2000s. He’s also friends with big time OL prospect Jerome Carvin and would-be DE target/Alabama commit Jordan Davis.  So there are some wrinkles in that recruitment that extend beyond the individual kid.

My take

Assuming that a) passing/not waiting any longer on Jones won’t cost you Carvin, b) landing Jones wouldn’t mean you’re all of a sudden landing the aforementioned Davis, and c) you’re not going to go after Peters, I lean toward pushing for Flint. I can’t say enough that I’m not a scout (professional or otherwise), but as mentioned above while you’re projecting Jones to be a big time LB who can help you win championships, Flint is a known commodity at the position with offers from much better programs. Watch him at the Rivals Atlanta Camp – he’s the only LB able to stick with RBs in the 1-on-1 drills, and he does it with both physicality and quickness.  He’s got the size/speed combo you’ve been making your prototype in the last few years, so he fits your system to a tee, and he also doesn’t carry the possibility of turning into a “tweener” or simply outgrowing the position like Jones does.  Finally, Flint is an early enrollee, which as we’ve seen makes him all the more valuable as a prospect as he’ll be much more likely to be ready to contribute immediately.  All that said, Jones could blow up this season at LB and see his offer list explode as schools see him actually perform at the position, so in no way do I think this is an easy call. For the record, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Vols take both Flint and Jones. They’re both excellent prospects and the numbers have a way of working themselves out. It will be fascinating to see how the coaches approach this now that the summer is over and the season is upon us.

Butch Jones is playing the long game in recruiting the Sunshine State

For years under Mark Richt, Georgia supplemented its in-state recruiting in one of the most talent-rich states in the country by dipping into neighboring Florida, an even deeper state in terms of high school football talent.  You don’t have to go back that far to find highly recruited stars like Aaron Murray and Orson Charles – guys that set the table for the Dawgs to sign 12 Floridians in total from 2014-2017.  That list includes recent names like Isaiah McKenzie as well as standouts on the current team such as Sony Michel, Isaiah Wynn, and Riley Ridley.

By doing work over a long period of time to establish a brand in Florida, Georgia has set itself up to seriously compete with the Sunshine State’s Big Three and pull big timers out of the state, and Kirby Smart is capitalizing on that in the current class of 2018.  Georgia is a legit contender for highly recruited guys like former FSU RB commit James Cook, WR Anthony Schwartz, and DBs Tyreke Johnson, Gilbert Frierson (Miami commit), and Nadab Joseph (LSU commit).  They are going head to head with FSU, Miami, and Florida for these kids, and are serious contenders for all of them.This isn’t by accident, because Smart is necessarily a great recruiter, or because the Bulldogs have former Miami assistant James Coley on staff.  Those are all potential factors, sure.  But it’s mainly because the program has developed deep ties in the state, both via high school staffs as well as constantly having Floridians on the roster who have blazed that trail.

Why this matters for Tennessee

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 state of Florida.  All of those players have bright futures and are even expected to be contributors to Team 121.  Notably, however, with the exception of OL Marcus Tatum and WR Latrell Williams in 2016, UT didn’t have to seriously fight any of the Big Three for these kids.

So far for the class of 2018, the Vols have three Florida natives on the commitment list: QB Michal Penix and DBs Tanner Ingle (who I am a big fan of), and Brandon Cross.  These three players are very well thought of and the staff loves each of them after seeing them camp multiple times. However, UT isn’t having to compete with FSU/Miami/Florida for any of them, at least at this point*.  Interestingly, of the remaining FL players on the 2018 board – WR Shocky Jacques-Louis, WR Jeshaun Jones, the aforementioned Schwartz, and DE Kayode Oladele – three of them have legit offers from at least one of the instate powers.

What Butch Jones is doing here is playing the long game.  By establishing a strong presence in the state of Florida, albeit so far mostly with players for whom he hasn’t had to fight the Big Three, he’s setting up the Tennessee program to be a legitimate contender for players that those in-state powers do want going forward, perhaps even in the immediate future.  An interesting thing about kids from Florida (especially those from South Florida who grow up knowing nothing but the Miami program and its empty off-campus stadium and absence of a true fan base) is that they are almost always blown away when they visit Knoxville and the UT campus, which is all the more reason for the significant investment in the state both in terms of attention. The Vols have also already offered a ton of 2019 and 2020 kids from Florida, and the staff spent a lot of time at satellite camps in the state during the spring. More importantly, with OC Larry Scott and now WR Coach Kevin Beard, the Tennessee staff has ties to the state. If those guys can get Florida kids to campus, then UT almost always has a real chance to land them, and both of them have serious juice (hat tip to Jesse Simonton from Volquest.com for the term) in the state.

As the state of Tennessee churns out more and more elite players, it will allow UT to not only fill a larger and larger portion of its roster with big time in-state talent, but also be pickier about who it recruits from outside its borders.  The Vols already have Georgia as one state it’s been able to depend heavily on for out of state blue chip talent; already four of UT’s 2018 commits hail from the Peach State, and they are fighting hard for a few more.  States like North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio have provided Tennessee with some great players over the years, but they haven’t been consistent producers for the Vols and instead have been states where UT can cherry pick a player or two every cycle.  However, if this investment in Florida pans out and Butch develops another area from which he can consistently land elite players, this would be a game changer for the program.  I think this is an incredibly smart strategy Butch is pursuing, and I anticipate that the fruits of this will begin to show up shortly with the Vols winning more and more head-to-head battles with the Big Three for elite talent from the Sunshine State, just like Georgia has been able to do for quite a while.

*It must be said that Ohio State and others continue to sniff around Penix and both Ingle and Cross have really nice out of state offer lists.

Vols recruiting thoughts headed into “Mini Orange Carpet Day”

As the offseason comes to a close, Tennessee wraps up its summer camp series with what is being billed as a mini-Orange Carpet Day tomorrow, July 20th.  Multiple current commitments, including QB commitment Michael Penix and big timers from Georgia and Florida, will be there along with a group of top-of-the-board targets that has become really impressive at the 11th hour (more on that below.)

The Vols currently sit with 17 public commitments and a Top 5 national recruiting ranking, and as we discussed recently, have the luxury of being very picky with its remaining spots.

A few thoughts:

Mini-Orange Carpet Day Suddenly No Longer Looks “Mini”

Just 24 hours ago it appeared that the only two headliners for this weekend in terms of uncommitted prospects were going to be PJ Mustipher and Jaycee Horn.  However, since then Volquest.com has reported that the visitor list now features multiple high-level targets, making the day a real opportunity for the staff.  Below are my thoughts on each of them:

DT PJ Mustipher: I think the staff would like to add another DT to the class of 2018.  That makes a guy like Mustipher incredibly important, and the fact that he made it out of his visit to PSU last weekend without committing and will be on campus tomorrow is very good news.  This will be Mustipher’s third visit to campus, having attended the Bama game last season and then a spring practice in April.  He would be another big time piece to what is already shaping up as one of the best DL classes in UT history.

CB Jaycee Horn: News broke a few weeks ago that Horn, who had recently eliminated the Vols and announced a top two of Alabama and South Carolina, was not only communicating with the UT staff but had scheduled another visit for the 20th.  Since then things seem to have continued to trend Tennessee’s way, and this visit is a big opportunity for Butch and Co. to solidify themselves in this recruitment, if not end it.  He is currently planning on going to Alabama’s Champions Cookout the next day, but there is speculation that he doesn’t currently have a commit-able offer from the Tide – that remains to be seen and is the ultimate wildcard here in my opinion.  The good news for the Vols is that that Bama event is the same day as a similar event South Carolina is hosting.  I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility at all that Horn commits to the Vols and shuts it down (to the extent anyone actually shuts down their recruitment anymore).  He would be the type of elite talent at CB that Tennessee has struggled to land for a long time, and would be a great complement to the South Florida tandem of Brandon Cross/Tanner Ingle that project more at the nickel or even safety positions.

DE Adam Anderson The first of the new adds to the list, Anderson’s recruitment is a very interesting situation. He, along with current Vols commitment Jamarcus Chatman and their fellow Rome, Georgia teammate and DL Jaquon Griffin were all once LSU commitments.  As we know, Chatman decommitted from LSU immediately after his Orange Carpet Day visit and subsequently pledged to the Vols.  Griffin, while still technically committed to the Tigers, has expressed strong interest in the Vols as well, although at this point he is not a take.  Anderson, who has now decommitted from UGA before LSU, is back on the market and is presumed to have UGA and Alabama at the top of his list, though he did list UT in his recently released Top Five.  Many thought this was only for show, but just getting him to campus is a minor win in and of itself.  We shall see how much this visit makes the Vols a player here, but the connection to Chatman and his family is strong for Anderson and you can be sure there will be some serious peer recruiting from Chatman and others (see: Harris, Jatavious, as the No. 1 example).  Without a doubt Anderson becomes the top rush defensive end on the Vols’ board along with fellow Georgian Azeez Ojulari.  Anderson is the type of talent that I am talking about in terms of aiming high and leveraging the kind of class the Vols have, both in quality and quantity, and taking big swings at big time talent.

DE Azeez Olujari – After spending two nights in Athens last week, there is a lot of buzz that UGA is the leader for this prototypical rush DE.  That said, this will be Ojulari’s third trip to Knoxville since the spring and comes on the heels of his Orange Carpet Day visit last month.  While no one seems to think the Vols are in front here, he obviously has a real affinity for the program, the coaches, and the campus.  The more visits the better, and with a potential preseason decision the staff has to really like getting him back again.

DE Kayode Oledale –Oledale decommitted from FSU a few weeks ago and right now Miami is considered to be a the top – he’s been to campus a few ties and is expected at their Paradise Camp this weekend as well.  That said, the Vols have been mentioned as a dark horse here for a while despite him never having visited, and we’ve seen what happens when kids from South Florida see what UT and Knoxville have to offer.  He’s very raw and likely isn’t an immediate contributor, but he’s a “first off the bus” looking kid with the kind of size/athleticism/strength combo that suggests an incredibly high ceiling.

DE Caleb Kelly – An interesting prospect who at 6’3 205 right now projects as an edge type, Kelly visited for Orange Carpet Day and very recently include the Vols in a Top Five along with Stanford, Michigan State, UVA, and Ole Miss.  He’s a very high academic kid, with offers from lower-tier football programs with strong academic reps like Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, and Yale (along with, of course, Stanford), Kelly is likely a guy the staff wants to see perform during the season before taking (just my opinion, of course) but someone who looks like a really nice prospect.

DE/LB Richard Jibunor (tentative) – Jibunor is a guy who could project as an LB or a DE and is, quite frankly, a freak athlete.  The word is that he likes the LB spot and while the Vols have been recruiting him as a rush DE there has been some speculation that the staff is perhaps actually looking at more traditional DEs like the guys above.  My guess is that they also aren’t sure he would be good enough in space to play OLB.  It could be moot, as right now by most accounts the Vols are behind Auburn.  However, he may like the Tennessee more than anyone thinks, and if he does make it back to campus it’s not only a good sign of his continued strong interest but also may be an opportunity for the staff to see him at either position and make a decision.

DB Trey Dean (tentative) – While most consider Dean to be a strong UGA lean and a safety prospect to boot, the Vols appear to be recruiting him as a corner and/or nickel (where he has performed pretty well, especially at his size at some big time camps including the Rivals 5-Star Challenge).  If he does show, it likely means he’s giving the Vols a serious look with a decision coming relatively soon.  He’s the type of talent that you’d make room for as a fourth CB if you can land both him and Horn.

To Add Another TE or Not?

I’ve been pretty consistent in my opinion that if Tennessee can’t land one of its top targets for the second TE spot then they shouldn’t reach lower down the board and instead should use that spot in the class at a different position.  Now that James Mitchell is no longer coming to campus tomorrow and appears to be a strong Virginia Tech lean, combined with further thought that Tommy Tremble is Notre Dame-bound, that thought hasn’t changed.  That said, it is clear that the UT staff would like to add another TE to this class, as evidenced by this week’s offer to summer-breakout prospect Luke Ford from Illinois.  Ford is a former Arkansas commit who now has offers from Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan (his presumed current Top Three) among other heavyweights.  Although it remains to be seen if the Vols can truly get involved with Ford, a TE prospect of this caliber is the type of player the staff should be targeting if they are in fact going to sign two TEs in the class.  If they can’t get in the mix here, my hope is that they will continue to aim high.

Dry Powder

With 17 commitments currently and at least one very strong lean out there in Memphis LB Cam Jones who could pop any day (not to mention other top prospects that are possible preseason decisions like Horn, Mustipher, OL Jerome Carvin, and WR Shocky Jacques-Louis), the remaining spots are limited.  Something I think would be interesting for the coaching staff to consider is the idea of leaving some powder dry in this class to ensure there is room for a graduate transfer for the 2018 season.  Had UT not had scholarship room for Shaq Wiggins, either in terms of overall numbers or initial counters (and I don’t pretend to know the roster machinations behind the scenes), the outlook for the secondary this season would be vastly different.  As grad transfers become more and more frequent in college football, UT will remain an attractive destination for kids looking to play for championships in their final season.  Obviously, I am not privy to how and when the coaching staff finds out about these possibilities, but I think it is something the staff should consider and game plan for as they figure out how to fill out this class.

A Final Thought (for now)

Obviously, Butch is recruiting at a very high level now, both for the class of 2018 as well as into the future.  We know what this class looks like right now, and the groundwork has been laid for success in what should be loaded in-state classes of 2019 and 2020.  Along with that, the current roster is set up for the 2018 and 2019 teams to be loaded not just with high level talent but also tons of experience.  Therefore, a strong season on the field in 2017 (I’d say nine regular season wins would qualify) would likely propel this program to heights it has rarely seen.  If that happens, Butch will have to make some decisions when it comes to more and more elite players wanting to jump on board – just look at the kind of talent coming to town, yet again, tomorrow.  Will be interesting to watch for sure.

State of Play: Vols can be picky, and July 20th camp has three major targets

After the Thursday commitment of stud JUCO Defensive End Dorian Gerald,, the Vols now have 17 public commitments (seven of which are early enrollees, by the way) and a class firmly in the top five nationally.  With only about eight spots left roughly seven months from National Signing Day, the UT staff is in an enviable spot of being able to be extremely picky with how they fill out the class.  At this point, it seems highly unlikely you’ll see any “reaches” for lower level prospects as the board is stocked with elite players at each position.

And while it really is incredible to have this many high level commitments at this point in the cycle, it is more likely than not that the Vols add multiple commitments before the summer is over.  A number of big time targets, for whom UT is in a range of “great shape” like WR Shocky Jacques-Louis, LB Cam Jones and fellow Cordovan OL Jerome Carvin to “firmly in the mix” like DE Azeez Ojulari, LB/DE Richard Jibunor and TE Tommy Tremble, are expected to make summer decisions.  The Vols are in a major battle with other SEC powers for Ojulari, but have received two campus visits since the spring and are in the top two (but likely trailing at this point) for Jibunor and Tremble with Auburn and Notre Dame, respectively.

In an interesting development in terms of timing, three other very important and elite prospects that would probably fit into the “firmly in the mix” group, are visiting on July 20 for Tennessee’s last camp of the summer:

PJ Mustipher

A big time defensive tackle prospect who is probably the only remaining non-defensive end the Vols would take on the defensive line.  He’s just that good, and as everyone knows, you can’t have too many elite DL.  Most think that while the Vols are in the final two at the moment for Mustipher, they trail Penn State, a school he’s visited multiple times.  Mustipher is scheduled to attend PSU’s big recruiting event shortly before coming back to Knoxville for what would be his third visit to campus.  He could decide at any time, and there is some thought that he might not even make it out of Happy Valley without committing to the Nittany Lions.  If he does, however, the Vols could find themselves in a prime spot with the opportunity to seal the deal on another elite DT and continue to add to an unprecedented haul on the DL.

James Mitchell

Along with the aforementioned Tremble, Mitchell is one of two tight ends that the Vols would realistically like to pair with local product Jacob Warren.  Thought to likely be a slight Virginia Tech lean at the moment, the Big Stone Gap, VA prospect will also be on campus for his third visit on the 20th.  Given how much Scott likes the TE spot in his offense, you know he’d like to add another elite talent here.  However, as we have talked about before, I am of the opinion that if the Vols miss on both Tremble and Mitchell they shouldn’t take another TE in this class.  That makes this visit incredibly important.  Mitchell’s decision timeline isn’t as well-known as some other prospects, but this is probably one of the last chances to impress him with an on campus visit other than a potential official visit.

Jaycee Horn

This will actually be the 4th visit for this elite cornerback and is by far the most surprising visitor.  After coming to Orange Carpet Day just a few weeks ago and seemingly enjoying himself yet again, Horn abruptly (and somewhat shockingly) cut the Vols and named a final two of Alabama and South Carolina as well as a decision date of July 15th.  However, after some recent pro-UT activity on Twitter, news broke on Wednesday night that not only is Horn unlikely to make a commitment in a week or so, but he’s now set to visit Knoxville again on the 20th.  While the Vols have two defensive back commitments that they love in Brandon Cross and Tanner Ingle, both of them are probably more suited for either nickelback or even safety.  A truly elite cover corner is one of the very few missing pieces in this class, and if the staff was somehow able to not only get back into this recruitment but actually land Horn, it would check that box in an emphatic manner.

What Butch Jones and Co. are getting done with this class is very impressive. As the dead period comes to an end soon, the rest of July is going to be incredibly interesting.  With a handful of high level prospects set to make decisions and three big time targets scheduled to visit campus as they wrap up their respective decisions, there could be more fireworks as the Vols add to a class that is shaping up to be Butch’s finest.

Tennessee Vols Recruiting: Random Thoughts

A half dozen random recruiting thoughts as it’s not even July, and the 2018 class is currently ranked #5 in the country with 15 commitments:

Still no Emerson

What’s even more impressive about the current ranking of the class is that it doesn’t yet include Vols lock and borderline 5-star DL Greg Emerson, who will be the crown jewel of this class as his fellow Jackson area-native Trey Smith was in 2017.

Defensive Ends

As noted over the weekend (and in the case of Chatman, presciently), the DE board is suddenly very crowded with blue chippers, another promising development as UT looks to finish this class out.  With Chatman in the fold and Emerson a matter of when and not if, look for the Vols to really zero in on JUCO stud Dorian Gerald and Azeez Ojulari while continuing to slowly chip away with Jordan Davis.  Other nice prospects are out there, and even over the weekend, 4-star DE Malcolm Lamer from FL named the Vols in his Top 5, just adding to the board.  But IMO it’s those three that will be the main focus going forward (again, presuming Emerson is a Vol already).

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Tight Ends

One position I continue to think is really interesting is TE.  While the Vols have a really good prospect already in the fold in local stud Jacob Warren, the thought is that they want to pair him up with another.  The two TEs the staff has focused on have been Tommy Tremble from GA and James Mitchell from VA.  And while UT is arguably in the Top 2 for both, it would be a stretch to say that they lead for either.  With Tremble, the thought continues to be that his interest in academics could lead him away from a big time SEC program like Tennessee or UGA (his father’s alma mater) and instead to a place like Notre Dame (his presumed leader right now), Duke, or even an Ivy. With Mitchell, even though he’s made a couple of visits to Rocky Top many think ultimately he will be tough to pull away from home state Virginia Tech.  And now schools like OSU are sniffing around, potentially complicating matters should he decide he would be willing to leave home.  All the while, other top flight TEs are either falling off the board or simply moving on as they are recruited harder by other schools.  So the question becomes, if you can’t land one of the remaining big 2, do you reach and take another TE in this class, or do you instead use that spot at another position?  It’s not an easy question to answer, as headed into 2018 you’ll only have 5 TEs on the roster, counting Warren, and to-date only one (walk-on Eli Wolf) has actually taken snaps.  Now a counter to that might be that none of the remaining class of 2018 TEs would move the needle in the 2018 season anyway as they would be just as inexperienced.  My take: Don’t reach, and then make sure you’re using the 2017 season to get guys like Eli Wolf and Austin Pope some real reps and likely 2017 redshirts James Brown/Latrell Bumphus the kind of physical development needed to be ready in 2018.  It’s not an ideal situation, but at this point if the Vols can’t land either Tremble or Mitchell I think I would rather see that spot used on another DL or OL.

Offensive Line

Speaking of…do the Vols take a 4th OL if they land Carvin?  Might depend on numbers at other positions, among other variables.  Interestingly, Midstate product and longtime Vols fan Tanner Antonutti is dying to get the green light to commit to his dream school and seemingly was ok waiting.  However, an offer from LSU over the weekend may have changed the calculus for Walt Wells and Co.  Does the offer from Red Stick force UT’s hand here, or is Antonutti still willing to wait?  It’s a fascinating question.  He’s an intriguing prospect – more of a Marcus Tatum/Nathan Niehaus type body in the sense that he’s got a great frame and athleticism but doesn’t have the weight yet.  Once again it’s a zero sum game when it comes to numbers at different positions, so if you take a 4th OL someone else is losing a spot.  It’s sounding more and more like Carvin is going to pull the trigger for the Vols sooner rather than later, so we’ll know more on that 4th spot shortly.

Linebackers

LB recruiting continues to be confounding, and there are just so many layers to it.  On the one hand, at this point the 4-2-5 is basically our Base package, so you just don’t need as many LBs as you used to.  Also, I think the Vols ended up with a really nice LB class in 2017: Ignot is a blue-chipper; Reid and Page look to have been steals after Reid looked really good this spring as an early enrollee and Page put on a bunch of muscle to go with his speed and high school production; and to cap it off, I’m firmly of the opinion that Maleik Gray is a future menace as a hybrid LB/NB chess piece that Shoop moves all over the place in the box, ala  Jabril Peppers at Michigan.  But on the other hand, it does seem strange that we haven’t found ourselves truly battling for bonafide stud LBs for a while now.  Yes, guys like Kirkland and Bituli were well-regarded and have very bright futures, but compare LB recruiting to, say DL or OL recruiting and it’s hard to say we’re signing the same caliber of prospect, at least on paper.  And that appears to be the case in the 2018 class, as the board is both relatively small and also devoid of big timers.  Don’t get me wrong, Cam Jones is likely to take a LB spot in this class, and I think that he has the potential to be a really, really good LB.  He’s got nice size, speed, and athleticism.  I don’t think we take more than one more though, and while I think guys like Matthew Flint and Cam McGrone and Fa’najae Gotay are solid prospects, the guy I would go all in on is Xavier Peters.  Yes, there are academic and potentially character concerns (though that’s just hearsay and I think it has to do with his fiery disposition).  But he looks like a potentially elite LB.  The kind that we don’t have on the roster right now with the possible exception of Daniel Bituli.  And with his home state Buckeyes being full at LB there is an opportunity for someone else to swoop in and snatch a big timer – the kind of kid who normally we’d have no shot at as he’d be an OSU lock.  The team that takes advantage of that should be the Vols.  Peters was here in the spring and loved it, but unfortunately didn’t come to Orange Carpet Day despite some thought that he would make it in.  So they’ll need to get him back to campus to remind him how much better it is than, say, Kentucky, who appears to have a decent shot at him right now.  Bottom line: Peters should be Thigpen’s focus, because he’s the kind of elite LB we don’t have on the team right now and he’s there for the taking.

Richard Jibunor

A final thought on LB recruiting this cycle: Richard Jibunor is one of my favorite players in this class.  He’s an athletic freak who could play LB or DE and loves the Vols.  Unfortunately, he also loves Auburn, and the Tigers are telling him he can play his preferred position of LB while the Vols are recruiting him as a DE.  Now, it’s a testament to how much he likes Tennessee that we are neck and neck with Auburn despite that.  But, especially given the dearth of big time LB prospects not only on the 2018 board but also on campus, I don’t see why UT doesn’t simply recruit Jibunor as a LB, or at least tell him he can play both or start at LB and see what happens.  That would not only eliminate Auburn’s advantage but also give UT another shot at a stud LB who, worst case, gets too big for the position and becomes a terror off the edge at Weakside DE.

Vols Recruiting: Defensive end board suddenly looking robust

While the Vols signed a very promising group of defensive ends in the 2017 class, including early-enrollee Deandre Johnson, Matthew Butler, Ryan Thaxton, and Marcus Bembry, the DE position is arguably UT’s thinnest in terms of proven depth and talent.  Therefore, it is a position of immense focus for the Class of 2018.  Yet as the calendar turned to June and the Vols sat with a Top 10 2018 recruiting class, there were still justifiable concerns when it came to the position, as the Vols had zero commitments, and it seemed like top talent with which UT was in a strong position was nowhere to be found. 

Over the course of the last month, however, the script has been flipped and the Vols have established an extremely strong DE board with several defined tiers.  As of now, UT finds itself as the leader for three blue chip DEs, in the Top 2-3 for another three big timers, building relationships with two FL studs who have expressed reciprocal interest, and in good position for several players who at this point are lower on the board.  See below for the current DE board by tier and my current take on each prospect.

Top Tier – Outright Leader

Jamarcus Chatman – A former LSU commit who decommitted from the Tigers after surprising some by showing up to Orange Carpet Day, Chatman is likely the Vols next and first DE commitment.  He’s All Vol on Twitter right now, as is his entire family.  A funny thing is that it seems to have been unknown until this past weekend that Chatman’s family is full of UT fans, and his sister is even an alumna.  This one truly seems a matter of when and not if, with the only potential complication being the status of his best friend and current LSU DE commitment Jaquon Griffin.  Many think Griffin only received his LSU offer so that the Bayou Bengals could land not only Chatman but also their talented LB teammate Adam Anderson.  I don’t think the Vols are willing to take Griffin, and I think Chatman is going to be ok with that.  Possibly very soon…

Greg Emerson – All Vols fans who follow recruiting know who Emerson is, and he remains UT’s top overall target regardless of position.  He’s second on this list only because despite my 100% confidence that he will be a Vol when he enrolls in December he seems determined (at least for now) to wait on announcing his decision.  The kid is an absolute stud, and while some had him pegged initially as a DT he has expressed a strong desire to be a DE.  With athleticism like this, there is little reason to doubt him, and given that he’s an early enrollee he looks like an instant impact player in 2018

Dorian Gerald – A Florence, SC native who left high school with zero offers, Gerald has become a national recruit as a JUCO DE out in California.  While some assumed that South Carolina was the favorite due to proximity to his hometown, a June visit to Knoxville placed UT firmly in the leadership spot, blowing away his visit to Columbia that had taken place days earlier. As an early enrollee with a frame that appears SEC-ready, Gerald is a guy who looks like he could be in the 2018 DE rotation immediately.  That makes him one of the most important players left on the board. Despite offers from Bama and the like, this one looks like it will come down to UT and the ‘Cocks, and as it stands now the Vols are at the top of his list

Top Tier – Top 2/3

Jordan Davis – A Florida native and current Memphian who committed to Alabama months ago, Davis has proven himself to be one of the best DEs in the entire class in several camp performances this summer.  Davis had talked about making it to Knoxville on more than one occasion this past spring but would no-show.  Many observers were convinced he was going to be impossible to flip, and there was even some talk that it would actually be UF and not UT who would have the best chance to do so despite how hard UT had been trying.  However, after finally making the trip for Orange Carpet Day, Davis was blown away and he appears to be very open to what UT is pitching.  He is good friends with two fellow Memphis-based prospects, Cam Jones and Jerome Carvin, and it sounds like despite neither of them being committed to the Vols (yet) both of them are selling the Vols to Davis.  Saban won’t go down without a fight, and the Vols will need to get Davis and his family back on campus as much as possible.  But he is the kind of prospect you go all-in for, especially when you have the chance to take an in-state player at an impact position away from Alabama

Richard Jibunor – A freak athlete who has worked out as a DE, a LB, a TE, and even a S at camps this spring, Jibunor has the look of a player who Bob Shoop could use in a variety of ways.  He likes the LB spot, but Tennessee sees him as a rush DE who can add weight and keep his elite athleticism and be a terror off the edge.  Right now, the Vols are tied with Auburn at the top for Jibunor, who says he’s still going to visit schools like UF and others before making a decision by the end of the summer.  UT hasn’t had a ton of luck going head to head with Auburn, but here’s hoping that trend doesn’t continue here.  He’s one of my favorite players in this class, and I’d be ecstatic if the Vols landed him

Azeez Olujari – Olujari has been to Knoxville at least twice, with the latest visit coming last weekend for Orange Carpet Day.  By all accounts he had another tremendous trip, and the Vols are firmly in the mix here along with UGA, Bama, and UF.  So, once again, UT is fighting it out with fellow SEC powers.  Unlike fellow Peach State prospect Jibunor, UGA is recruiting Olujari very hard.  It will be a fight to the end for Olujari, but the Vols have positioned themselves firmly in the mix, and I expect will at least get an official visit.

Top Tier – In the Mix but Building Relationships

Gregory Rousseau – A Miami commit and another Vols prospect from South Florida, Rousseau got a Vols offer this week after attending a UT camp last week.  A long, lean, and uber-athletic player, Rousseau actually plays a variety of positions for his high school team.  He’ll need to add weight to be able to play DE in the SEC, but based on his athleticism, he appears to have an incredibly high ceiling.  What I like about Rousseau is that he landed his offer after working out in front of the coaches, so they have a very good feel for his talent level.  His level of interest, especially since he’s committed to Miami, is unknown at this point.  But for him to come to camp to try and earn an offer tells me he’s likely to at least listen.  Definitely one to watch moving forward.

Kayode Oledale – Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Oledale is (say it with me) an athletic freak.  He decommitted from FSU a few weeks ago and immediately listed UT as a school of strong interest.  There was even some talk in Indianapolis at the Rivals 5-Star Challenge that the Vols are one of the top contenders.  He’s very raw but, again, his ceiling is off the charts.  UT will need to get him to campus, and soon, to be an actual contender, so that will be something to watch this summer.  If they can, he’s a guy you take all day.

Next Tier

  • Caleb Johnson
  • Caleb Kelly
  • Nick Fulwider
  • Leonard Taylor
  • Malik Langham
  • Jaquon Griffin

These guys have been on campus, have offers, and like the Vols a lot.  Johnson, Kelly, Fulwider and Taylor were all in attendance for Orange Carpet Day and are all relatively new to the Vols DE board.  Langham has been on campus more than once, and Griffin is the aforementioned teammate of Chatman and as of now is still committed to LSU. 

All of them appear to be solid prospects (some likely better than solid), but as of now likely wouldn’t be able to commit to UT.  However, the Vols will probably continue to recruit them throughout the summer and fall, and they are definitely guys to watch moving forward.

BIG fan of “Little” Tanner Ingle

When you read up on new UT CB commit Tanner Ingle, you get the feeling very quickly that he feels overlooked due to his being “only” 5’10.  He mentions it often, and while it appears to motivate him it certainly does not enter his mind when he is bringing the lumber on the field.  The kid can obviously hit from the DB spot, which will give him a chance to potentially be a jack of all trades guy in the secondary who can play all of the CB/NB/S slots.  But I’m not a scout, so my film analysis ain’t worth much. 

What I can do is learn a lot about a prospect by looking at a few things, and when you do that it’s very easy to become very excited about this addition to the commitment list:

1)  He earned his UT offer at a camp in front of the entire staff by showing out at the Big Cat Camp in Memphis.  So they’ve seen him up close and worked him out very recently.

2)  This wasn’t his only strong performance.  He performed well at the Opening Regionals in Orlando, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash with a 4.15-second shuttle and also registering a 35” vertical jump for a rating of 105.06.  He was also a standout performer at the adidas 3 Stripe Camp in Macon, GA two weeks ago, prompting Woody Wommack from Rivals to note “Ingle is a classic case of a highly productive player who is under recruited because of his size, but when given the chance to showcase his skills in front of coaches he excels and ends up getting the recognition he’s earned.”

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3)  Speaking of recognition, Ingle has 30 offers, and has earned about half of them in the last two weeks after these camp showings.  Along with the one from UT, Ingle earned recent offers from Stanford, UNC, and Wisconsin to go with other notable offers including one from Bud Foster at VT.

4)  So it’s not like he’s completely overlooked.  In fact, Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel recently called him “arguably the best all-around football player in Central Florida and one of the best in the talent-rich state of Florida.”

5)  He’s played in big time games and made big plays: On the way to Dr. Phillips eventual loss in the 8A FL State Championship Game, Ingle returned a punt for a TD in the semifinal.

6)   He’s also a track athlete. Earlier this spring, he ran an 11.32-second 100-meter dash and 23.17-second 200-meter dash for the Dr. Phillips track team. He also participated on the 4×100 relay team and in the long jump, where he finished 6th in the state with a leap of 22-0.75 feet.

7) Along with his evident abilities as a punt returner, he should be a Special Teams maven given his athleticism and penchant for hitting.
 
8) Finally, he’s a big time student athlete with a 4.0 GPA.  The offers from Stanford, UNC, and Wisconsin aren’t notable just because they are from solid to top-flight football program with very strong academic reputations.  Those are also joined by the likes of academic powerhouses like Harvard, Dartmouth, and Vanderbilt
 
So what you’re looking at is a versatile DB who can run and jump and loves to hit.  A kid who has performed well at multiple camps and earned offers from big time programs with very good defensive reputations. A player who is recognized for being one of the best players in the state of FL all the while being a stud in the classroom.  And on top of that a young man with a chip on his shoulder because he feels like all of the above is still overlooked due to his smallish size in this new era of 6’+ CBs. 
 
Suffice it to say that I am a very big fan of this pickup, and when you combine him with Brandon Harris at S and CB Brandon Cross (who Austin Price of VQ really likes after seeing him in Knoxville on Saturday) and what’s left on the CB board (more to come on that in a future post) this DB class is off to a very nice start.

Orange Carpet Day (and other) Recruiting Predictions

As we noted a few weeks ago, the Vols continue to have plenty of recruiting momentum as the month of June kicks off.  Since then they’ve added an instate TE with a sky-high ceiling in Jacob Warren and then this past week the nation’s No. 1 punter in Skyler Delong.  And despite the decommitment of Jaylon Reed on Monday, the current class is incredibly strong from top to bottom with a lot of runway left.

With the camp season kicking off and the showcase Orange Carpet Day coming up on the 17th, here are some predictions of what might happen this month, at Orange Carpet Day itself and by position:

Orange Carpet Day

Below is the current list of expected visitors, with the list likely to expand quite a bit as the weekend gets closer:

  • CB Jaycee Horn
  • DB Rayshad Williams
  • DE Azeez Ojulari
  • TE Tommy Tremble
  • RB Lyn-J Dixon
  • RB Anthony Grant
  • DE Jordan Davis
  • OL Jerome Carvin
  • LB Cam Jones
  • DE Caleb Johnson
  • DL Greg Emerson
  • CB Jordan Miner

Predicted (but not unexpected) commits going into the weekend

Cam Jones and D’Andre Litaker. Commitments QB Adrian Martinez and WR (and peer recruiter extraordinaire) Jatavious Harris have said they are coming as well.  I would expect most if not all of the other current commitments to also be there.

Less expected predicted commitments

Tremble – crazy-athletic TE to pair with Warren that finishes off the position for this class

Miner – not 100% sure he’s a take at this point, but he likes the Vols and awful lot and if he is in fact a take for the staff (and how he looks when he comes to Knoxville could play a part) they might put some heat on him

Another prediction: Jordan Davis finally makes it to Knoxville (and brings his family) and the Vols become a real player

RB

Dominos begin to fall and the Vols land at least one RB, but it’s not that simple

There are conflicting reports about how much Master Teague does not want to play with Zamir White.  With both Teague and White high on UGA, this is where it gets interesting.  Especially because while White’s current decision date is set for June 27, there are rumblings that Teague could do something sooner.  The Vols are certainly trending with Teague while Auburn has fallen back to the pack, leaving this a two-horse race. 

Obviously best case scenario for UT is to land Teague and have White pick OSU – both of which are very realistic possibilities. 

Prediction: Regardless of what Teague does, either LJ Dixon or Anthony Grant commit to the Vols by the end of the week after Orange Carpet Day

Prediction: If Vols lose out on Teague and can’t land both Dixon AND Grant, Tae Provens gets the greenlight to commit and does so earlier than his currently scheduled August 11th date

OL

Prediction: Taylor Antonutti shows out at either a satellite camp and/or a camp in Knoxville and becomes a legitimate option at OT regardless of what Jerome Carvin does

Prediction: Speaking of Carvin, with whom it seems like Bama has some momentum, his visit to Orange Carpet Day lifts the Vols back to at least even

DE

Prediction: Dorian Gerald’s visit to campus this week stamps the Vols as a major player going forward and he becomes the #1 target at the position

Prediction: Vols land a DE this month – either Richard Jibunor or Azeez Olujari

Prediction: At least one more legitimate option emerges (Jordan Davis? A new name?)

LB

With likely only one spot after Cam Jones commits, Xavier Peters (my personal favorite still on the board), Matthew Flint and Justice Dingle visit Knoxville and the board shakes out from there

Prediction: Cam Mcgrone commits to ND

Prediction: Jacquez Jones either earns a commitable offer at a camp or he and the Vols part ways (though I’m sure Butch handles it in a way that keep the door open should Jones have a tremendous senior season)

Secondary

Prediction: Trey Dean commits to UGA and the Safety board narrows

This opens the door for either/both of Rayshad Williams or Jarek Campbell to earn commitable offers at the position with camp performances

Williams also has the chance to earn a CB offer if he shows he can play the position with that length.  Especially with the Reed decommitment

Same for Jaylon King, who now has a shot to show out at CB at a camp and earn a commitable offer

Jaycee Horn has become that much more important as arguably the top CB on the board. With him alternating his leader spot between Bama and South Carolina on an almost daily basis, his visit for Orange Day becomes huge.

The Vols 2018 Class is looking good, and could get even better in June

As June rapidly approaches, the Vols are in a situation not seen since the 2014 class that featured early commitments from studs like Todd Kelly Jr and Jalen Hurd: A highly-ranked class featuring not just a large collection of commitments, but a commitment list jampacked with studs from top to bottom AND two bigtime QB commits to boot.  And while the Vols have dominated instate recruiting so far, there are still more than a half-dozen instate prospects who the Vols are pushing hard and are in good position for (more on that below).

And with all of the momentum the Vols have on the trail right now, the relatively newly important month of June holds the promise of more message board booms.  In back-to-back-to-back weeks, June will feature two instate satellite camps, one in Nashville in one in Memphis, as well as the featured event of the offseason, Orange Carpet Day in Knoxville. It’s no secret that the MIdstate has and continues to be a growing area in terms of high level football talent, and Memphis (and nearby Mississippi) appears to be getting more attention from this staff of late with the 2018-2020 classes.  And Orange Carpet Day has been a source of summertime commitments every year since Butch created it.  Obviously last year was an anomaly in terms of the sheer volume of commitments (not to mention the fact that the majority of those didn’t end up signing with UT in the end), but it’s reasonable to expect some action that weekend.

While we haven’t seen attendee lists for the two camps, below are uncommitted prospects with Vol offers in the respective areas.  The sheer number boggles the mind for those who have followed instate recruiting for more than 3-4 years:

June 4th Satellite Camp – Nashville

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2018

  • RB Master Teague
  • DL D’Andre Litaker
  • OL Taylor Antonutti
  • WR Camron Johnson
  • CB Jaylon King

2019

  • OL Jackson Lampley
  • DL Joe Anderson
  • DL Ani Izuchukwu
  • WR Lance Wilhoitte
  • WR Trey Knox
  • DB Wesley Walker
  • DB Jashon Watkins

2020

  • DL Tyler Baron

June 11th Satellite Camp – Memphis

2018

  • DL Greg Emerson
  • LB Cam Jones
  • OL Jerome Carvin
  • DB Rayshad Williams
  • ATH Kundarrius Taylor
  • DL Jordan Davis (Bama commit)
  • WR CJ Bolar (MS)
  • DB Jeshaun Jones (MS)

2019

  • DL Kristian Williams
  • DL Trevis Hopper

2020

  • WR Darrin Turner

June 17th Orange Carpet Day

While the attendee list for Orange Carpet Day is similarly unclear at this point, based on history and the high volume of instate prospects who have UT high on their lists, one can expect a very impressive number of blue-chip prospects to be there.  Staying with the instate theme, the Vols have a real chance to build momentum with a bunch of kids heading into Orange Carpet Day at the camps held the prior two weeks and then potentially seal the deal with some of them when they are in Knoxville.

So far, commits Adrian Martinez and Jatavious Harris have said they will be there, along with CB prospects Rayshad Williams and Jaycee Horn.  I wouldn’t be shocked if most of the rest of the current commitments are also there.  Again, I don’t expect the kind of fireworks we saw at last year’s event, as not only is this class already at 10 high-level commitments but also the staff has shown at least so far this cycle they are willing to be pickier about who they take.  That said, a commitment or two that day wouldn’t be surprising in the least.

Finally, the staff will be holding camps on campus throughout the month and will likely bring in many more offered prospects for those while at the same time identifying others to offer. Happens every year.

In addition to what one could reasonably assume to be some guys pulling the trigger based on these camps and the Orange Carpet Day event, there are a handful of prospects that UT appears to lead for who have indicated that June commitments could be coming, including the aforementioned Litaker as well as Knoxville area TE Jacob Warren.  So while a Vols fan has to be feeling incredibly good about where the Class of 2018 sits heading into the last week of May, chances are things will be much better when the month of June closes.

The Importance of the Tennessee Vols Having 2018 QB Recruiting Already Wrapped Up

With the Tennessee Vols no longer recruiting quarterbacks this cycle, it goes without saying that landing two blue-chippers in one class when you’re only going to have three scholarship QBs (max) on the roster this coming season is a big deal. Importantly, as QBs are often the face of a recruiting class when it comes to peer recruiting, having two (one on each coast) should be beneficial as well.  I expect both QBs to be active on the phones with offensive line and skill position players, and Penix in particular to work his home area hard for the Vols.  On that note, with the deep Florida ties already on staff in Scott and Beard to go with the 12 total players from the Sunshine State in the 2016 and 2017 classes, Penix can be a pied piper of sorts moving forward down there.  CB Jordan Miner, OT John Campbell, and WR Jacob Copeland (the biggest swing of the bunch) are three big time FL prospects who are getting a lot of attention from the staff and will be ones to watch between now and February 2018.

Additionally, while of course continuing to a) recruit both Penix and Martinez to ensure they don’t stray, and b) low-key keeping tabs on other QBs in case that does in fact happen, the Vols and Canales can concentrate their QB-recruiting focus on the 2019 class. Even better, Canales can do that NOW while he’s on the road evaluating, while other schools still working on their 2018 QB are preoccupied.  Canales will also be able to devote some time to pitching in with prospects at other positions instead of having to focus strictly on QBs. 

So as you can see there are multiple reasons to be very happy with the Vols already sewn up the QB position for this class.  Almost as importantly, relative to its two top rivals in the SEC East, UF and UGA, the Vols are in a great spot with the 2018 QB class.

UGA: It must be noted that UGA has not only Jacob Eason for two more seasons (for better or, hopefully, worse), they also have a 5-star early enrollee from the 2017 class in Jake Fromm already on campus.  However, they are absolutely trying to sign one and potentially two in 2018, and so far they have struck out (Side note: Can. You. Imagine. what Vol fans would be doing if UT had lost instate QBs the caliber of Emory Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Jarren Williams?  Would Neyland be a pile of rubble?  Would 3 new sports talk radio stations opened in Knoxville to serve the uproar? The mind boggles).  They are still trying with Fields and not giving up on Williams, but Williams has recently recommitted to UK.  UGA will end up with at least one QB in this class, but at this point it seems like a long shot that their QB class will be the equal of UT’s.  

UF: The Gators are nowhere near in as good of a position as UGA or even the Vols. Their current 2018 roster consists of Felipe Franks (bust of a freshman year followed by a half-decent spring); Kyle Trask (never started in H.S., poor redshirt season; couldn’t beat out Franks this spring before suffering a relatively major injury); and early 2017 enrollee Jake Allen (smallish, fairly disappointing senior season, nondescript spring).  They NEED a bluechipper in this class but they are running out of options.  UF also continues to try with Fields despite his PSU commitment, and they’ll also likely keep after Jarren Williams despite his recommitment to UK.  After that it gets as perilous as it does for UGA.  At this point it looks like UT will take another large step ahead of UF at the game’s most important position.

So here we sit in mid-May and the Vols have two big time QBs wrapped up, while its two biggest SEC East rivals are in a bad spot at the moment.  With as much recruiting momentum as the Vols have right now, this might be the best thing about the class so far.