Category Archives: Recruiting

What wound up being a surprise visit from a “mystery” quarterback last weekend appears as though it will manifest itself as a Tennessee quarterback commitment.

JT Shrout, a 6’3″, 190-pound quarterback from William S. Hart High School in Newhall, California, and a one-time California Bears commitment was going to choose between UT and Cal tomorrow.

On Tuesday night, he officially decommitted from coach Justin Wilcox’s Bears, according to his official Twitter account. This seems to be good news for Tennessee.

After much thought and prayer I have decided to de-commit from from Cal. I would like to thank Coach Wilcox and his staff for giving me this opportunity, but I feel this is the best thing for me to do. I will still be signing tomorrow during the early signing period. Thank you.

— JT Shrout (@JT_Shrout16) December 20, 2017

Though Shrout threw for 3,064 yards as a senior, he tossed an eye-popping 25 interceptions to go along with 27 touchdown passes. He’s still the No. 26 pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to 247Sports.

After an injury forced him to miss much of his high school career, this season was his first to start. Yes, he threw far too many interceptions, but folks everywhere are enamored with his upside, too.

Back in July, Yahoo.com’s Pete Thamel — he of the Tennessee bashing during the Greg Schiano debacle — wrote about the unheralded prospect:

But it’s safe to project Shrout, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound rising senior, as one of the biggest steals of the 2018 recruiting class. That was the consensus of coaches at the QB Collective, including one NFL coordinator who told Yahoo Sports that Shrout was by far the most polished prospect there. Shrout wowed all the coaches with his technical precision, polished footwork and smooth throwing motion. “I think of all the quarterbacks who were here, if I were an NFL general manager or quarterback coach, [he’d be] the guy who could step in on day one and fundamentally work within an NFL system,” said Sage Rosenfels, a longtime NFL backup who works as private quarterback coach in the Omaha area. “His drop was smooth. His fundamentals were very efficient and he throws a great ball.”

That’s a testament to the type of offense the Vols want to run under offensive coordinator Tyson Helton. It’s obvious this will be a pro-spread style that will utilize multiple receivers in West Coast route trees, feature running the football and downfield passing. It’s time to get back to real football, folks.

This is a vital piece to Tennessee’s puzzle, and the Vols really need him to pull the trigger, especially after Adrian Martinez flipped to Nebraska and UT cut Michael Penix loose to sign elsewhere. Shrout would be the only quarterback in Tennessee’s 2018 class, and he will be able to step right in and compete with Jarrett Guarantano, Quinten Dormady and Will McBride.

Shrout is an unfinished product, but he is the type of moldable piece for Helton. If he winds up choosing the Vols tomorrow, it will be a nice pickup. He has all the tools.

 

 

Don’t look at the recruiting rankings right now.

No, I mean it. Don’t. Please.

A Tennessee recruiting class that once climbed as high as third nationally before coach Butch Jones’ fiefdom came crashing down, the lull in leadership broke down relationships and the administration botched the coaching search [though may have landed the hire] is currently in shambles.

If you’ve patronized the message boards lately or read Twitter, you’d think Tennessee’s class has collapsed around new head coach Jeremy Pruitt. That’s not so. At all. Local writer Mike Griffith even went as far today as to say Pruitt is “struggling.” That’s laughable.

It’s not a great look yet again for UT that it had favorite son and recruiting organizer extraordinaire Austin Thomas stole from LSU before a deal fell through. It was unfortunate for the Vols that Chris Weinke was set to leave Alabama with Pruitt to come to UT before his alma mater Florida State came calling.

But don’t look at this incomplete recruiting class and judge Pruitt’s body of work. It’s very much a work in progress. He couldn’t develop relationships before this early signing period where players can sign tomorrow, and he couldn’t help that some of the elite players who were once committed have a frontrunner mentality and dropped the Vols.

It’s been a perfect storm that’s caused the Vols to plummet out of the recruiting rankings.

When Tennessee was recruiting under Jones, the Vols enjoyed highly ranked classes yet failed to develop that talent. It’s not uncommon to look at UT players as seniors who didn’t progress much from their freshman seasons. We all know now Jones struggled to elevate players’ talent once they arrived on campus.

Did you ever think part of that was the type of player Jones recruited, though?

I’m not knocking any of the current kids on Tennessee’s roster, but it’s clear that Jones recruited to a certain system — a system he called “infallible” — and that system failed famously, especially once Joshua Dobbs left for Pittsburgh. When Pruitt came in [finally] to coach the Vols, he took one look at UT’s class and basically gave a metaphorical shrug and a “meh.”

Then, the culling ensued.

Yes, Tennessee absolutely would have loved to land 5-star offensive lineman Cade Mays, a Knoxville Catholic player whose father was a standout. But he decided to go in a different direction, no matter how much Pruitt and UT coach Phillip Fulmer tried to sway him otherwise. It’s going to hurt seeing him playing for Clemson or Georgia next year, but nothing Pruitt could have done would sway him.

Absolutely, the Vols were happy with 4-star quarterback and Cali prospect Adrian Martinez coming to Knoxville, even though he didn’t play at all last year and isn’t an ideal fit for the pro-style offense coordinator Tyson Helton wants to run. But when Scott Frost arrived at Nebraska and made Martinez a priority, he fell in love with that new system in Lincoln. Honestly, he’s a better fit for what they want to do, even though he would have been a heck of a quarterback at UT potentially.

The rest of the players were guys Pruitt just didn’t think fit the system. Florida quarterback Michael Penix will land at a quality program, but he is more of a dual-threat kid, and Tennessee didn’t prefer him. Better to be up front and honest with guys than have them take up a scholarship spot that can be used elsewhere, have them unhappy and quit. Who wants that?

Do I understand Pruitt cutting a guy loose like Jamarcus Chatman and then getting a commitment from Kingston Harris, a defensive lineman who struggled to find the field as a senior at prestigious IMG Academy? Nope. But I know he’s a big body with a bunch of potential, and if anybody knows the kind of players he needs to run the type of 3-4 defense Pruitt employed at Alabama, Florida State and Georgia that won championships, it’s the man who shaped those units.

Why are we grinding our teeth that Pruitt saw a Jones class and disassembled it? Last I checked, Pruitt is coaching in the College Football Playoffs; Jones is sitting at home after his team went 4-8. And Mays [as well as Jaycee Horn, who just committed to South Carolina] are guys who decommitted on Jones’ watch, long before Pruitt came into the picture.

The Vols already went after another quarterback — California commitment JT Shrout — who will choose between UT and the Golden Bears tomorrow. If you look at his senior season stats, you will cringe. He threw 27 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Yikes. But he is 6’3″, a traditional dropback passer with pristine mechanics that have NFL scouts already excited, according to Yahoo.com’s Pete Thamel.

Tennessee will be watching instate offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, his teammate 4-star running back Jeremy Banks and Shrout, among others, tomorrow. If a couple of those guys pull the trigger, it could set the stage for a big finish for Pruitt and the Vols.

Pruitt had exactly one recruiting weekend to prepare for [remember, he was announced mere days before getting Alontae Taylor back on campus, and he recommitted]. With a week to prepare for that day, Pruitt went JUCO-heavy on the visits, and we’ll see if any of them pay off with pledges tomorrow. UT certainly needs immediate help, especially on both lines and in the secondary.

Pruitt’s staff believes it can get in on some big names after the early signing period. The nation’s second-ranked outside linebacker J.J. Petersen has had Alabama at the top of his list forever, but Pruitt is his lead recruiter with the Crimson Tide. He told SEC Country this week that UT now leads. If Pruitt can convince some of those guys he’s already built relationships with when he was with the Tide to follow him to Tennessee, the Vols could land a few.

Also, it remains to be seen who Pruitt will hire in his last three assistant spots. Will one of them be South Carolina wide receivers coach and elite recruiter Bryan McClendon, as rumored? Pruitt knows recruiting is the name of the game in the SEC, and he’ll get somebody who can be relentless on the trail. Whoever that is could bring with him targets, too.

And [hold your nose, Vols fans] if Alabama looks good in the playoffs and Pruitt’s defense shines, it will be good publicity for UT, and some positive vibes could come the way of Tennessee’s recruiting class still. There’s still a month-plus for Pruitt to build relationships once he gets on campus for good. That’s not a ton of time, but it is enough with some preexisting relationships to get some guys on campus and signed.

This class isn’t going to wind up a high-riser in the least, but the Vols could fill some needs, and if it gets in the top 20 with all the turmoil that’s transpired, it’ll be OK. Pruitt is going to build things his way. We don’t know if that’s a winning way because he’s never led a program, but he has won a lot of championships as an assistant.

So, tomorrow, when all the excitement is happening and Mays makes his choice to go somewhere other than Knoxville and the Vols wind up with some guys who weren’t even on the radar a week ago, don’t get down. This is only the beginning of the Pruitt era, and with what Jones left UT, it isn’t an overnight fix.

Pruitt is going to do it his way. And as he said in his press conference, Vols fans shouldn’t worry about the guys they don’t get but the ones they do.

Aight?

 

Here’s where it gets really fun.  As new Coach Jeremy Pruitt builds an all-star recruiting staff that brings prior relationships with bigtime players from across the South (and indeed the whole country), the existing boards on Offense and Defense are quickly being bolstered with new offers and renewed interest from players who has previously moved on from the Vols.  Below is a look at newly offered players as well as a few others for whom the new staff will likely get a new look – the good news is that it’s an extensive list, the bad news is that there isn’t a ton of time for some of them…

RB

Jeremy Banks – High school teammates with major OL target Jerome Carvin, Banks is a bigger back who had a huge senior season that has generated a ton of new offers from major schools.  He got a Vol offer last week and is very interested – he will be OV’ing this weekend.  Whether he signs in December remains to be seen, but this is his 5^th OV so there might not be much more for him to see.  He seems like a potential commitment this weekend depending on how it goes, and him being good friends with top OL target Jerome Carvin makes him that much more valuable

Greg Bell – Bell is from the same Arizona Western CC as high priority OL target Jahmir Johnson and TE Dominick Wood-Anderson (see below).  Bell has Nebraska as a top choice along with Louisville, both of whom he has already OV’d.  Tennessee is hoping to get him to accompany Johnson to campus this weekend for an OV to Knoxville and is fighting Auburn and ASU for that visit.  If he does make it in one has to think the Vols have a good chance, as he’s signing in December.  If it comes down to Bell or Banks the Vols for the second RB spot (assuming Anthony Grant is solid, which isn’t 100% sure) Tennessee will have an interesting choice to make as Bell is an early enrollee and could represent a package deal with either/both of Johnson/Wood-Anderson

Jerome Ford – A Florida native who’s had a big senior year, Ford has an interesting offer/college list: while he has a standing Alabama offer (and an OV scheduled this weekend) and his other top choice is USF.  He got a UT offer this week so it will be interesting to see how much mutual interest there is.  He’s a likely December signee so the odds here are long, especially since there is a good chance he commits to Bama soon

WR

Jacob Copeland – So, Copeland is a stud.  Period.  And the Vols were not even in the picture before the new hire – he had decommitted from UF and was considered a Bama lean.  But he’s got a great relationship with Pruitt and after an in-home by some assistants last week he’s OV’ing to Knoxville this weekend.  Here’s the (pardon the pun) catch though: this will be his first OV and he’s very likely to wait until February to sign.  Obviously the best case scenario is he’s blown away by UT and the new staff, commits and signs on 12/22.  I’m an optimist, and stranger things have happened, but that seems unlikely.  More likely is Tennessee becomes a major player in this recruitment but UT has to fight through multiple other OVs (Bama, maybe UF, etc) until February.  Copeland is a major talent though, so swinging big here is worth every effort.

Rashod Bateman – Kid flat dominated GA 7A competition in Tifton Co (South GA) and is a stud basketball player too, yet is a Minnesota commitment who until last week’s tender from Tennessee had very little SEC interest.  He’s loved by local recruiting industry writers and feared by local high school coaches, and it could be too late for anyone else to get into this one as he currently plans to sign with the Gophers in December.  However, one has to think the UT offer opened his eyes, and the hope he is he gives the Vols a shot.  South Carolina just offered as well, and UGA is sniffing around too and could likely end things with an offer, so this one could get interesting.  We’ll see…

Geordon Porter – The latest offer as of Tuesday afternoon, Porter is a very recent Notre Dame decommitment.  He’s from CA with a great offer list that strangely does not include USC (Helton) that brings speed and athleticism to the table.  In fact, he is considered to be one of it not the fastest WRs on the West Coast.  It remains to be seems how interested he is in Tennessee, but he’s got two OVs left, having already seen ASU, Utah, and ND.  Clearly the new staff is trying to leverage Helton’s connections in California and we’ll see soon if they bear any fruit

TE

Dominick Wood-Anderson – The nation’s #1 JUCO TE has certainly enjoyed the process, giving multiple staffs indications that he was going to commit.  Alabama has been one of those, and no doubt Pruitt has a prior relationship here (Helton might too).  There is talk he might OV to Knoxville this weekend – if he does the Vols have as good a shot as any, and he’s a plug and play starter both due to his own immense talent as well as the dearth of quality and quantity at the position

Glenn Beal – A large body with experience both being an inline blocking TE and getting out in the passing game, Beal comes from a strong John Curtis HS program in New Orleans.  He is a high level SEC recruit coveted by LSU and Alabama among others.  Upon being re-offered by Pruitt he has immediately set up an OV for this weekend.  While that certainly shows legitimate interest, Beal is likely (though not 100%) a February signee, so the Vols are likely trying to make a giant impression and hope he’s ready to jump in; otherwise they’ll be fighting major powers who will have OV’s left in their arsenal

Michael Ezeike – Former Oregon commit whose body type is in the style of Jason Croom and current WR turned TE Princeton Fant.  Got an offer last week, but has already taken all five of is OVs so this one seems like a longshot for now – if he makes his way to Knoxville on his own dime I’ll happily change my tune.

OL

Dwayne Wallace – Grad transfer from Cal who sat out last year due to an injury, Wallace is a massive man who started nine games for the Bears in 2016.  He appears to have quite a bit of talent, and with the dire state of Tennessee’s projected 2018 OL he’d be an important add.  He’s set to enroll somewhere in January, and as a grad transfer he’s the perfect fit – ready to play but a one-year rental who won’t hold the new staff back as they try to load up with a large 2019 class.  He’s scheduled to OV to Tennessee this weekend (starting Thursday) and there is a good chance he ends his recruitment while in Knoxville.  He’s previously OV’d to Miami and FAU.

Jahmir Johnson – Teammate of the aforementioned Bell, Johnson was recruited by the previous staff and has had interest in the Vols for a while.  He got a quick reaffirmation of his UT offer from the new staff and is now set to OV to Knoxville this weekend.  When he signs is unclear and he’s definitely not an early enrollee, but he’s a real talent and like Wallace would likely be in line for a lot of immediate playing time.  Ideally both of these guys commit this weekend and fortify not only the 2018 class but also the OL for the upcoming 2018 season.

Johncarlo Valentin – Valentin is a center/guard prospect who has been thought to be leaning to Baylor, and has other offers from the likes of Missouri (OV’d last weekend), Temple and Kansas.  Notably though, he signed with OU out of high school so he’s got some pedigree.  He’s teammates with a new top CB target Jeremy Webb (below) both of whom the Vols are pushing to get to campus this weekend as they are both December signees.  He’s a big body with some athleticism and is a good addition to the OL board.

Chase Brown – Yet another JUCO OL, Brown is a Pittsburgh commit who received an offer over the weekend.  Interest is unclear, and he’s an early enrollee – which gives him more value but means Tennessee either gets him to campus this weekend or misses out – but what is clear is that Pruitt and OL Coach Will Friend see the need for immediate help at the position and are acting accordingly.

DL

Coynis Williams – Massive Auburn DT commit, Miller got an instant offer to UT from Pruitt will to OV to Tennessee this weekend.  However, he’s not signing until February so the Vols will have to make a huge impression to be legit contenders.  Likely a longshot, but he’s very talented and a perfect NG fit in Pruitt’s 3-4.

Jalen Cunningham – Another very large NG prospect offered by the new staff, Cunningham is thought to be an Ole Miss lean with Alabama also in the mix.  Pruitt’s got a relationship here and the new staff just offered today – if they can convince him to either not sign in December (likely with the Black Bears) or OV this weekend after the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Game Tennessee will have a real shot here.

Andres Fox – Currently an AU/Alabama battle, Fox is another Alabama native who didn’t have much interest in the Vols until the new staff arrived.  How much he has now is undetermined, but the long pass rusher isn’t signing until February so UT will take a swing.

Javeon Becton – UGA commit from current Vol Eric Crosby’s HS, Becton is a pass rusher who knows Sherrer well.  He just got a Tennessee offer and seems interested – in fact, he was in Knoxville for the UGA game in late September so he’s been to campus once already.  Another February signee, the Vols have time here to make a push.

Michael Williams – A QB/DE (you read that right) from Louisiana, Williams has offers from the likes of Bama, LSU, and others.  He’s not particularly tall at around 6’1, but he’s over 260 pounds yet moves like a 225 pounder.  Likely a 3-4 OLB/Rush DE, Williams got a Vol offer this weekend.  We’ll see if he reciprocates the interest, but he has the look of a typical Bama/LSU defender who is both big and fast and makes plays.

Jordan Davis – Bama commitment from Memphis (Southwind), Davis nearly flipped to the Vols over the summer at Orange Carpet Day only to be told no by his mother.  Pruitt obviously has a longstanding relationship here, and Davis is also very close with Carvin.  Some rumblings he might be open to giving the Vols one more look, but that seems to have been shot down (again, by his mother).  If he signs in two weeks it will be with Alabama – if not, all bets are off.

Daniel Carson – Newly offered big-bodied DE from Missouri, Carson has OV’d to both Texas and Miami and has one scheduled this weekend for Nebraska.  His interest in UT is undetermined at this point – he’s another who if he signs in December it likely won’t be with Tennessee but if he’s a February signee the Vols will have a shot.

LB

JJ Peterson – Arguably the top prospect who Pruitt and the new staff gave Tennessee the best chance for as soon as they put on the Vol gear.  Peterson now not only has ties to the staff (he loves Pruitt, plays for Pruitt mentor Rush Propst, and is from GA so knows Sherrer) but also to the UT program – Colquitt Co. has produced Vols in back to back classes in Jaquan Blakely and now Shawn Shamburger.  Long considered a Bama-AU battle, Peterson has said he will OV to the Vols before signing in February.  He’s instantly one of if not the most talented LB on the roster if he signs with the Vols – this will be a knock down drag out fight and one that could yield a crown jewel of the class should Tennessee win out.

Quay Walker – I’m projecting a bit here because there’s been no smoke about Walker (a Bama commit) really looking at UT.  But he’s not only close with Pruitt but also is being heavily recruited by UGA (Sherrer).  He’s a February signee, and I wonder if he’s a guy who Pruitt leaves alone until after he’s officially finished with his tenure as Bama DC and then tries to get heavily involved with.  He’s a high caliber prospect and like Peterson would represent a bigtime injection of talent to the UT LB corps.

DB

Marcus Murphy – An “athlete” who played a lot of QB for his high school team but is projected as a CB, Murphy not only got an early offer from the new staff but also received a quick in-home visit from fellow Mississippi native Robert Gillespie and new DB Coach Terry Fair.  Murphy is a Mississippi State commitment and plans to sign in December; however, despite a good OV in Starkville this past weekend he is planning to OV to Knoxville this coming weekend immediately after the Alabama-Mississippi game.  Could be one to watch…

Jeremy Webb – Teammates with Valentin at ASA in Brooklyn, Webb has one OV left before signing on 12/22 and enrolling in January.  Webb is one of those JUCO CB prospects who blow up late, and the 6’3″ CB is deciding between UT and UF for his final visit.  Should he decide to visit Knoxville things will be pointing up here for the Vols, who currently have zero DB commitments and need talent and depth at the position.

Rayshad Williams – After visiting Knoxville at least once over the spring/summer, Williams, a Memphis Whitehaven native, committed to Vanderbilt when UT didn’t come through with a firm offer.  Obviously an excellent student, Williams is a very large CB (6’3″) and fits what Pruitt looks for in a high level prospect at the position.  Though he hasn’t been mentioned with UT for months, Tennessee high school relations staffer Patrick Abernathy (who has relationships throughout the state and is a possibility to remain on in some capacity) is on the road while Pruitt fills out his staff and is set to visit Williams today.  We’ll see if anything comes of it, but Williams has long liked the Vols and is not signing with Vanderbilt in December due to not being 100% sure of his decision, so there might be an opening here.

Isaac Taylor-Stuart – Big-timer from CA who’s been considering Alabama for a longtime, Stuart got an immediate offer from the new staff and instantly inserted the Vols into his Top 6 alongside the Tide, UGA, USC and Texas A&M (where he’s already OV’d).  He’s clearly not afraid to leave the West Coast, and as a February signee he’s got time to sort through things and build a relationship with the Tennessee staff.  Hyper-talented and would be an instant contributor in Knoxville.

Eddie Smith – Longtime TCU commit who also got a quick offer from Pruitt, the Louisiana native fits the Pruitt mold of long CBs.  Smith hasn’t been very vocal about either the new offer or the strength of his TCU commitment, but it sounds like there might be a shot for the Vols to get more heavily involved.

Nikko Hall – California native who plays both sides of the ball (WR and DB), in my opinion this one is a long shot unless and until Tennessee can get him to campus.  He’s incredibly talented though and likely has a prior relationship with Helton, so it’s worth trying.

After looking at players on Offense who’ve been linked to UT through the 2018 cycle, below is a look at the board on Defense as Coach Pruitt gets started.  With only 6 commits on that side of the ball, there’s a lot of work to be done here:

DL

There is always a need for more defensive linemen, and with Pruitt being a defensive guy and having two DL coaches (by trade at least) on staff in Tracy Rocker and Chris Rumph, you can be sure this will be an area of focus both in terms of the current board and also for new prospects.  Tennessee’s current DL corps has some talent but needs to be upgraded to compete for championships.

Malik Langham  – Another DL for whom the Vols have been involved with throughout the process, Langham, an Alabama native, has recently seen the home-state Tide put the pressure on after a great senior season.  He was in Knoxville a few times over the summer and also took an UV for the South Carolina game, so clearly he has a lot of interest in the program.  He’s a really nice looking prospect with the kind of grades to put Vandy and Notre Dame (where he’s OV’ing this weekend) in the mix as well.  One would think that the new staff, and especially Pruitt, have a strong tie here.  He’s a late signee so there’s time for the Vols to reestablish themselves, but he’s only got 2 OVs left taken/unscheduled.  I expect Tennessee to get one and be a real player until National Signing Day

Caleb Tannor – After decommitting from UGA, Tannor’s is an interesting case.  On the one hand he likely has a preexisting relationship with new DC Kevin Sherrer who’s coming over from Athens, but on the other hand, of course, he decommitted from there.  Tannor liked the Vols a lot back in the summer before committing to the Dawgs and has been on campus a few times including recently for the LSU game.  There’s some grade concerns, but Tannor is a really good prospect who I think deserves attention from the new staff given the need for pass rushers

Azur Kamara – I wrote about Kamara back in the preseason, and he’s done nothing during his season to make me think any less of him, posting 2.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss.  He’s part of the Arizona Western JUCO crew that the former staff visited a week or so ago, but it’s unclear how much interest he still has.  He’s only got two OVs open and Ole Miss and Oklahoma State appear to be the favorites to land those.  We’ll see if the Vols can get (back) in the mix

Javonte Jean-Baptiste – The Vols have an in here because Jean-Baptiste comes from the same high school as Jarrett Guarantano.  He’s a long and lean (6-5, 215) edge rusher with a great frame and had a senior season that saw him upgraded to a 4-star by 247.  He had the Vols in his Top 4 with BC, Virgina Tech and UCF and was actually scheduled to OV for the Vandy game, so if Pruitt and Co. want to get involved I think they can.  He’s OV’ing to BC this weekend and VT the next, and the new Nebraska staff (form UCF) has also reached out with an offer.  This will be one to watch moving forward.

LB

If Coach Pruitt is going to play more 3-4 in the future, he’s going to need more, and more talented, and perhaps different style LBs than what’s on the roster.  The one LB on the commitment list, Matthew Flint, is very talented but this class likely needs more.  The lack of numbers here reflects the fact that the Vols signed quite a few in 2017 and the fact that the old staff played much more 4-2-5 Base defense and just needed fewer bodies on the roster.

Caleb Johnson – A longtime Vol target who has seen his SEC interest increase throughout his season season, Johnson took his UT OV for the UGA game.  Under a 4-3 he might be considered more of a 4-3 DE prospect, but I’m putting him here for now.  Despite the coaching turnover and an uptick in interest from the likes of Auburn and UGA, Johnson has maintained high interest in the Vols.  One has to imagine that new Defensive Coordinator Kevin Sherrer and his staff (which is still being added to) not only are well aware of Johnson but have a strong relationship with him. He’s a late signee who’s taken no OVs yet, so there is plenty of time here.

Cam Jones – We discussed his recruitment viz. Flint back in the summer.  A Tennessee legacy who many thought was a fait accompli to the Vols, Jones never could get comfortable enough to pull the trigger and eventually recommitted to Indiana.  He’s an outstanding athlete who projects to a number of positions – will the new staff try and get (re) involved?  Would he have any interest?  Remains to be seen…

DB

Unfortunately, yet another position that needs both talent and depth.  The new staff has work to do here.

Jaycee Horn/Trey Dean* – Two high level prospects who have decommitted since Butch Jones was fired, it’s pretty obvious the Vols have a better chance with Horn than Dean.  Pruitt has prior relationships with both, and Horn was enamored with Bama throughout the process while Dean has basically closed the door on Tennessee (though I think there’s a crack there).  Horn likes South Carolina a lot and the Cocks are and were always going to be in this one until the ink dries.  With Pruitt in Knoxville one would think that strengthens Tennessee’s position, but we’ll see.  He’s a February signee so there’s plenty of time, while Dean is signing in two weeks so there really isn’t

Tanner Ingle* – Beating a dead horse here, but I really like Ingle’s game.  Right now NCSU appears to be his other option.  Can the new staff get back in here?  Do they want to?  Open questions, but I hope the answer to both is in the affirmative

Dashon Bussell – Local product who’s a great athlete, Bussell is currently committed to Western Michigan.  If the new staff wants to get involved it surely can, and with the numbers as they are it could be a necessity.

Myles Mason – Alabama native who didn’t have a Tide offer from Pruitt, nevertheless Mason is a really nice looking prospect who projects as a physical Safety.  He visited Knoxville during the season for an UV, but then committed to Dan Mullen and Mississippi State soon after.  He currently still plans to sign early with the Bulldogs, so the window is pretty narrow if the Vols want to get involved

*Formerly committed

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

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 4^th 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.

We’ve been posting side-by-side charts comparing starters’ recruiting rankings for a few weeks now. It will come as no surprise to anyone to learn that this week’s chart shows that Alabama’s starting lineup features much more talent (as measured by recruiting rankings) than does Tennessee’s. A major caveat is, of course, required here, as the correlation between recruiting rankings a team’s or player’s success on the field is both not exact and full of outliers. Coaching matters, too, you know.

Here’s the side-by-side projected starters for this week’s game between the Vols and the Crimson Tide, with each players’ class and recruiting rankings. If you can’t see the entire chart embedded below, click here for full page:

As before, the color codes are based on the range of 247 Composite numbers on the list. The range starts with deep green at the top and ends with deep red at the bottom.

Here’s the list of starters, sorted by recruiting ranking (full page here):

Observations

• You may be as surprised as I am to learn that Tennessee has two of the three highest-rated players in this matchup. Defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie and offensive lineman Trey Smith are both not only 5-star guys, they are high 5-star guys. McKenzie is rated higher than Alabama’s highest-rated player.
• You are probably as unsurprised as I am to learn that Alabama has seven of the nine highest-rated players in this game. After McKenzie and Smith, Alabama has the next six highest-rated players, all of them 5-stars.
• Alabama’s probable starting lineup has only two 3-star players, but remarkably, also has two former walk-ons. Can you imagine the gumption it takes to walk on at Alabama? High five to linebacker Jamey Mosley and cornerback Levi Wallace. Not only are they both former walk-ons, neither of them had a recruiting rating out of high school.
• The stars breakdown:
  • 5-stars: Alabama 7, Tennessee 2
  • 4-stars: Alabama 11, Tennessee 9
  • 3-stars: Alabama 2, Tennessee 10
  • No rating: Alabama 2, Tennessee 1

In the three days since the Vols’ disaster against the Georgia Bulldogs, a few aftershocks have raised alarm among fans. First, backup offensive lineman Venzell Boulware published a Tweet early yesterday afternoon that he was leaving the program:

pic.twitter.com/LqyYLzWH8D

— VENZELL BOULWARE (@Venzell55) October 2, 2017

Shortly after that, UT wide receiver commit Jatavious Harris announced via Twitter that he’s “now open to all schools,” and that was followed by a similar announcement by 4-star safety Brendon Harris. Silence from Cade Mays, the jewel of the class, is being construed as ominous.

But just how concerned should we actually be about a player leaving the program in the middle of the season and a couple of commits deciding to re-open their recruitment?

Some, certainly. But also, not too much.

Acknowledging the situation

A little shifting and sifting after a loss like the one the Vols endured Saturday is to be expected and shouldn’t be too alarming. There should be no one associated with the program who is not less comfortable today than they were Friday, and when circumstances change, there’s nothing wrong with changing your posture so that you’re ready to react if need be.

I’m not even convinced that Boulware’s announcement was a result of the loss as much as it was a realization of his place in the pecking order of the offensive line. Boulware redshirted his first season on campus and then played in seven games last season, starting three of them, before an academic issue caused him to miss the bowl game. This season, Boulware was involved in a competition with Jack Jones for the starting position at left guard. Jones was ahead of Boulware initially, but Boulware then started against UMass. Against Georgia, the team tried a combination not involving either Jones or Boulware, and when that didn’t work out as hoped, they settled on Jones at left guard. Boulware’s statement was a respectful one, and no further reasons for leaving were given, but a reasonable conclusion is that he simply believes he has better opportunities elsewhere. Best of luck to him.

The announcements of the two recruits are also not alarming, in my opinion, although for different reasons. First of all, Jatavious Harris told GoVols247 that although he’s re-opening his recruitment, he’s actually still committed to the Vols. But even if you consider his and Brendon Harris’ respective announcements as true de-commitments, it really only signals some justified anxiety about the current situation. That anxiety is not only completely understandable, it will almost certainly be resolved in time for the Vols to attempt to secure their re-commitments. If Jones gets things turned around, he’ll have the inside track, and if the front falls off and Jones gets fired, then everyone will presumably love the new guy, and he’ll have an opportunity to re-recruit the class back into the fold.

In addition to that, it’s also important to note that many of the current commits have publicly reaffirmed their commitments to Tennessee:

Loyalty pic.twitter.com/Y3o7NKxcpW

— Jamarcus Chatman (@ChatmanJamarcus) October 2, 2017

…

Through thick and thin,Imma ride✊🏽💯🍊 GBO pic.twitter.com/8mpuPD2qvY

— Tanner Antonutti (@TannerAntonutti) October 2, 2017

…

100 pic.twitter.com/AsLZpiSsOX

— JUNGLE BOY (@jayceehorn_10) October 2, 2017

It should be noted that Horn also tweeted yesterday that he was excited to receive an offer from Clemson, so make of that what you will, but these guys could have either followed the lead of the guys re-opening their recruitment or stayed silent, but instead they publicly re-upped.

Add to all of that that stud quarterback commit Adrian Martinez not only publicly reaffirmed, he’s been all over the place (Twitter, radio appearances) actively working to rally the troops.

There’s plenty of time

Things could change, no doubt. But they can change in a lot of ways. They could get better. They could get worse.

But either way, there should be ample time to recover and re-recruit any commits anxious about the future at Tennessee. And that means that it’s too early to panic.

 

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.