Post-Spring Projections: Quarterbacks

As we enter what I call the dark days of summer because we’re just weeks removed from spring practice but months away from actual football starting, we’ve got to fill our minds with visions of orange-and-white grandeur to pass the time, right?

That’s why you see esteemed Internet sites like this fill pages with projections, because, really, that’s why you’re here. You want to read about Tennessee athletics, and considering it’s almost as if the Volunteers don’t have a baseball team [or one worth watching, anyway] we’ve got to fill the space with football hopes and dreams.

Spring practice — like most all the springs before of the Butch Jones era — didn’t tell us much. But after what we saw and read, we can make some prognostications about what we may see, or at least expect to see, once fall practice starts. So, over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’m going to break down position-by-position what we saw, what we read and what I’ve heard about to project who’s gonna play where come opening weekend against Georgia Tech.

We’ll start this series at the most important position on the team: Quarterback.

QUARTERBACKS

I saw that half of football. Now, I’m a believer.

There are a lot of folks who want to go out on a limb and make crazy assumptions and logic leaps about the Tennessee quarterback battle following Quinten Dormady’s brilliant 10-of-10 spring game performance where he threw for 120 yards and culminated two scoring drives with touchdown tosses.

That doesn’t diminish anything Jarrett Guarantano did this spring; not in the least. By all accounts, the redshirt freshman who entered the spring as the fan favorite to win the job [even though there’s no indication he’s who the coaches favored] did nothing but help his cause this spring. He may have experienced moments and even days of inconsistency, but his skill set is immense. Guarantano is not as shifty or as brilliant in the open field as Joshua Dobbs, but he arguably has better straight-line speed. Once he realizes when to take off and when to stay put in the pocket, he’s going to be fun to watch.

Guarantano also has next-level arm strength. He probably has the best arm of any Tennessee quarterback since Erik Ainge, and that’s not an exaggeration. The ball literally jumps out of his hand, and though he hasn’t completely harnessed it yet, the “arm talent,” as analysts like to call it, sets him apart from a lot of other players.

The problem with Guarantano is experience. He simply doesn’t have any of it, and when you factor in he missed half of his senior season of high school with an injury, he’s just raw. He’s an elite talent, but he’s not ready to be the starting quarterback yet.

This spring was more about what Dormady showed me than what Guarantano didn’t.

For the 2017 season, the Vols need to start out at least with somebody who has taken some live bullets. Thanks to Dobbs’ incredible durability over the course of the past two seasons, Dormady hasn’t played any meaningful snaps, but he has at least gotten in games. In those games, other than flashing his own great arm strength, he hasn’t done a lot to muster immense excitement. Then again, when you’re used to seeing Dobbs’ magnificence when plays break down, Dormady looked almost statuesque [side note: He’s not]. In actuality, the kid is athletic, he’s got a great arm and he’s been in the film room for two years. That cannot be overstated. This was already his third spring practice at UT, and that gives him an advantage.

When Dormady took the reins in the spring game, he showed that he has the ability to take it up a notch. Now, of course, spring games aren’t real games, and two-hand touch isn’t the best environment for a quarterback to showcase his talent. That’s why nobody is anointing new Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham as the first-team All-SEC quarterback. But because of his showing in the A-Day game coupled with how good he looked in limited action while he was at Baylor, there’s justifiable excitement. The same goes for Dormady. It’s the same palpable excitement we all felt when Dobbs was dynamic throwing the ball to Josh Malone three springs ago. We thought, “This kid looks like he can be a great player.” That turned out to be true.

As I’ve already mentioned in articles before, the best thing about the Orange & White Game performance of the 6’4″, 216-pound junior from Boerne, Texas, was not his perfection. It wasn’t his statistics. It was his ball placement on his passes. If he puts the ball in position for his receivers to make plays, that’s the best UT can hope for. The offense won’t look the same without Dobbs’ dual-threat ability, but Dormady has the opportunity to upgrade UT’s passing efficiency considerably. That’s not taking anything away from Dobbs’ dynamite senior season; but Dormady’s differences from Dobbs could actually be assets as UT flips to the Larry Scott era.

Dormady’s leadership could be an asset. With the offensive line expected to be a team strength in 2017 and with the depth new assistant Walt Wells enjoys at the position following the [much needed] ouster of Don Mahoney, the Vols don’t need a quarterback who can run for his life. He shouldn’t have to. John Kelly has proven he can be a very good SEC running back, and though there are depth questions behind him, UT has the talent to outfit the running back position nicely. Tennessee is unproven at the receiver position behind junior Jauan Jennings. So, they need a strong-armed, accurate passer to make them look good.

I’m not saying Dormady is that guy, but he has the ability to be that guy. We saw that flash in the spring game even though it was a small sample set.

So, when it comes to quarterback depth, I’m going to say Dormady is your starter to open the season. If you have to adjust accordingly, that’s OK. It’s also just fine if Guarantano gets in the game in certain situations and if the Vols can balance a two-quarterback system of sorts based on different schemes and defensive looks. But Dormady looked all spring like a starting quarterback, and so he gets the nod, because of experience but also because when the time came to showcase his skills, he took advantage of it. No matter what Jones says publicly, that had to give him the upper-hand.

With Sheriron Jones transferring, that elevates true freshman Will McBride to third-string quarterback behind Guarantano. If the Vols add Adrian Martinez to go along with Michael Penix in the 2018 recruiting class, UT’s quarterback situation could be a strength for a long time to come, even with the Vols striking out on Emory Jones, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.

Prediction: Quentin Dormady starter. Jarrett Guarantano 2nd string. Will McBride 3rd string.

Next: Running Backs

Tennessee Recruiting: Vols Getting Lawless in Knoxville

Tennessee has the opportunity to meet a major need in the 2018 recruiting class without leaving state borders, and the first step toward achieving that massive portion of this year’s haul happened Monday night.

Brant Lawless, a 4-star defensive tackle out of Nashville Christian School, pledged to Tennessee over offers from Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Oklahoma and others. Looking for an elite player with an elite offer sheet? Lawless provides that, giving the Vols one of their two biggest pledges of the ’18 class so far.

https://twitter.com/brant_lawless/status/859185049140436993

As the Vols continue building this class, they also remain in good shape with 4-star defensive tackle D’Andre Litaker of Murfreesboro and 4-star strong-side defensive end Greg Emerson of Jackson. The Vols are also trying hard to flip Jordan Davis of Memphis, who is committed to Alabama but listening to UT, according to VolQuest.com’s Brent Hubbs.

All three of those guys remain major targets for the Vols, but a big-time domino fell Monday with Lawless’ pledge. The 6’3″, 285-pound interior lineman is rated as the country’s No. 25 defensive tackle according to the 247Sports Composite, and that elevates to No. 18 at his position in 247Sports. He’s also one of the nation’s top 300 players overall, and many of the country’s top programs would love to have him as one of the anchors of the class.

Lawless is explosive from the center of the line, and he has the ability to be a complete tackle, stopping the run and getting after the passer from the inside. He was a teammate of UT sophomore linebacker Daniel Bituli, and his first look at Tennessee came with Bituli on a trip. Since then, the Vols have pursued Lawless, making him a priority. They’ve been considered a favorite for a while, and Lawless ended the process early.

Now, it’s time for the peer recruiting to ramp up. Lawless, Litaker and Emerson are all close, and they group chat with each other. They’ve developed a bond with one another, and they’ve discussed playing together in college. Perhaps most importantly, all have developed relationships with UT defensive line coach Brady Hoke and coordinator Bob Shoop. The Hoke hire may wind up being the ideal hire at the perfect time for the Vols. Many of the top targets on the defensive front seem enamored with him. Lawless talked about the assistant’s passion, their relationship and his spirituality.

Now, Lawless is looking toward getting his buddies in orange, according to Scout.com’s Danny Parker.

After struggling to land many of its top targets from inside state boundaries in the 2017 class, Tennessee is doing a lot to batten down the hatches this year and in the future. Already in the ’19 class, UT has commitments from four in-state targets. This year, the Vols can outfit much of their haul with Volunteer State players, and guys like Litaker, Emerson, Smith, Cam Jones and Cam Johnson could go a long way toward doing that.

Already, UT has commitments from offensive linemen Cade Mays and Ollie Lane, receiver Alontae Taylor and cornerback Shatar McClay from Tennessee in this year’s class. Quarterback Michael Penix, running back Jashaun Corbin, receiver Jatavious Harris and Mississippi cornerback Jaylon Reed round out a class that has surged to 13th nationally on 247Sports and second in the SEC.

Lawless loved the family atmosphere in Knoxville. “The main factor, it was just something about it just gave me that good feeling all the coaches made you feel at home,” he told 247Sports’ Barton Simmons.

Tennessee’s renewed focus instate has been a group effort. New assistants Walt Wells and Hoke are helping, and Tommy Thigpen had a hand in Lawless’ recruitment, too. With all the talent in the state, UT can line its class with stud prospects from close by if it continues to excel at home. Getting Lawless is a huge domino, and the peer recruiting could really get this year rolling.

The Vols now need to continue the momentum into the summer months. With Litaker possibly expected to do something soon, the good news may continue to flow. Lawless was a massive piece of the puzzle.

Tennessee’s 2017 NFL Draft Presence a Return to Normalcy

In every season but two between 1939 and 2014, the Tennessee Volunteers had at least one football player taken in the NFL Draft.

The Vols dubiously doubled that number in the past two years, as zero players were taken by NFL teams. Again, we should take this opportunity to thank Derek Dooley for the 47,457th time.

So, when six Vols were plucked in the 2017 NFL Draft that just ended this afternoon, it felt like everything was right with the world. Led by living legend Derek Barnett—who was taken 14th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles—and highlighted by a fourth round that saw three Vols taken Saturday, it was a glorious showing for head coach Butch Jones and a testament to the turnaround in Knoxville.

You may (rightfully) be bristling at how things turned out on the field during a frustrating 9-4 2016 season, but there’s no question Jones’ recruiting is putting Tennessee in position to be successful once again.

Jones told GoVols247’s Wes Rucker in part on Saturday afternoon:

I know today is all about their players and their families, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment and just kind of reflect and talk about this being a great weekend for Tennessee football. It’s a great weekend for all of our players. They’ve done such a great job of not only representing their personal brands, but also the great brand of Tennessee. Obviously we’re very proud and excited for them—and not only them, but their families, as well.

There are plenty of reasons for Tennessee to be concerned after moving on from such a vaunted group of guys, but given that this is really Jones’ first class of NFL recruits, it’s also a reason to be excited about the future. Obviously, Jones and his staff is doing a good job evaluating players, and though the past couple of classes haven’t been as highly rated as the first two, there are plenty of prospects brewing in Knoxville.

Guys such as receiver Jauan Jennings, running back John Kelly, linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. and defensive end Jonathan Kongbo look like quality NFL prospects. The quarterback duo of Jarrett Guarantano and Quinten Dormady could evolve, too, and though the Vols don’t look to have a class as highly regarded as this year’s on the horizon any time soon, they have a smattering of talented players who could turn into elite pro players.

The most worrisome thing for Tennessee is next year doesn’t look like a big one on the prospects horizon. FOXSports.com’s way-too-early look at a 2018 mock draft features no Vols [unless you count Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson]… The Vols need players to develop and emerge who can keep this momentum going and keep having this pro angle selling point for prospects.

If Tennessee can just tread water in what should be a transition year in 2017—think eight or nine wins—the ’18 and ’19 classes are already off to exceptional starts, and this newly refurbished coaching staff looks like it can do some damage on the trail.

Plus, a showing like the past three days can play extremely well in living rooms. This is how Tennessee football is supposed to represent on draft day. And this isn’t just frilly window dressing, either. These are ideal situations for all players who were taken.

  • When you’re taken in the first round, 14th overall, you aren’t expected to ride the bench. Barnett won’t, and he is primed to have a great career in a city that fits his personality. We all remember the Nashville native abusing tackles, getting in extra pushes and slings on quarterbacks after the whistle and playing with a chip on his shoulder. For a gritty, abrasive fan base in Philly, Eagles fans will absolutely adore him. Barnett is big, mean and [most importantly] a really, really good football player. He’s an ideal fit in the NFC East and especially in the blue-collar city of Philadelphia.
  • Though the New Orleans Saints signed Adrian Peterson to go along with All-Pro running back Mark Ingram, who is just now coming into his own in the Big Easy, Alvin Kamara is the future at the position. It isn’t an ideal depth chart situation, but from a situational standpoint, there are fewer great fits than Kamara’s game and head coach Sean Payton’s scheme. This is, after all, the coach who helped turn Darren Sproles into a star, and Kamara’s game fits here. He’ll catch passes out of the backfield, probably play some special teams and gradually ease into some touches for the Saints. Eventually, it’ll be his backfield.
  • When it comes to NFL franchises, few [if any] are better-run than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and so for Cameron Sutton to land there is terrific. He could win that starting nickelback role as a rookie, and that’s a really good spot for the former UT shutdown cornerback. He may not have the speed to play boundary corner in the NFL, but going to a Steelers franchise that always puts a quality product on the field will be a great deal for Sutton. He will play a lot as a first-year player and could wind up a star in the Steel City.
  • The Detroit Lions desperately needed linebackers entering the draft and went a long way toward addressing those needs with the second-round pick of Florida’s Jarrad Davis then coming right back with Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the fourth round. JRM dealt with significant injuries in Knoxville, as we all know, but he was wildly productive when he was healthy. He isn’t the same kind of linebacker as Davis, but the duo are complimentary of each other. He’ll contribute right away, and his ability to help on special teams will be a big deal on the next level, too. JRM has an ideal opportunity to step right into the rotation as a rookie.
  • Josh Malone was taken in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he will provide some much-needed speed and playmaking ability to a team needing difference-makers on offense. Cincy plucked Washington speedster John Ross in the first round and added controversial Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, whose pick prompted a Cincy television station to call for a Bengals boycott. Those two picks proved the Bengals need speed on that side of the ball, and so does the Malone pick. Along with A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell, Ross and Malone should slide in and get immediate reps. There’s, again, opportunity to play.
  • The most ideal situation for perhaps any Vol not named Barnett in the draft came when quarterback Joshua Dobbs was taken by the Steelers with the 135th overall selection, the same spot where the Cowboys took Dak Prescott last year, a player to which Dobbs has been often compared. With Ben Roethlisberger getting up in age and with backup signal-caller Landry Jones’ inefficiencies, Dobbs has a golden opportunity to step right in and slide into the No. 2 quarterback role. If that happens, he’ll almost certainly get some game reps, because Big Ben gets hurt every year due to his reckless play. If Dobbs progresses the way he could, that could be his job in two or three years, and the Steelers are always set up to win big right now. It’s just that type of franchise. Also, having a familiar face like Sutton around won’t hurt, and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has been around UT’s program a few times in the past couple of years.

So, not only was this weekend big for the Vols, it has the opportunity to keep paying dividends over the next few years as Jones begins his next round of pitches to prospects saying, “You could be the next Dobbs” or “We plan to use you like Alvin Kamara.” He’s already made that pitch this year to running back commitment Jashaun Corbin, and it will only continue.

Jones is right. The past few days were great to be a Tennessee Vol, and it will breed new Vols in the future. Now, if UT can only break through with some more prominent steps on the football field in the wake of Jones’ first strong NFL Draft class, the program can keep this momentum going.

That may be a big “if,” but this first group certainly did their part on the field, and they were rewarded handsomely in the draft.

Vols quarterback Joshua Dobbs selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

VFL and NCAA poster boy for brainy student-athletes everywhere Joshua Dobbs was just selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the draft’s 135th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Nice Guys everywhere, rejoice. We don’t always finish last.

Dobbs’ played in 37 games over the course of his Tennessee career. He was pressed into action his first two seasons after injuries to the starters, but his early experience paid off in the form of several incredibly productive seasons as a Volunteers. His 3,781 yards of total offense last season ranks second in Tennessee history. Who’s first? Why, Peyton Manning, of course, although he only beat Dobbs by a mere eight yards. Makes you wonder whether Manning would have given him that advice if he had displaced him in the record books.

For his career, Dobbs had 7,138 passing yards (fifth in Tennessee history) and 2,160 rushing yards (first in Tennessee history for a quarterback). His 9,360 yards of total offense is third in Tennessee history behind Manning and Casey Clausen.

It could not make us any happier to see Dobbs get drafted into the NFL. A super-smart, incredibly good guy (one example: Josh Dobbs and A.J., Ice-Cream Men) who was doubted for much of his career and underappreciated for most of the rest of it, he suddenly started getting the attention he deserved by NFL analysts just a couple of months ago. Look, Jon Gruden isn’t the only one who loves the guy. (And Gruden is all about comparing Dobbs to Dak Prescott, and you know what he did in the NFL last year.) He may not have gone as high as the recent hype suggested he might, but that just means that he’s going to have to prove everyone wrong again.

See also this page of stories tagged Josh Dobbs.

This highlight video takes a while to get going, but hang in there, because once it starts the actual highlights, it’s good.

Vols wide receiver Josh Malone selected by Cincinnati in fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

And that makes five. Five Tennessee Volunteers now taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, as the Cincinnati Bengals just selected receiver Josh Malone with the 128th pick. Malone had 50 catches for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. 

For his career, Malone played in every game that past three seasons and averaged 2.7 catches and 41.2 yards per game. He put up a total of 1,608 yards and 14 touchdowns in three seasons on Rocky Top. Congrats to him. And his grandma.

Vols linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

VFL linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin is the fourth Tennessee Volunteer to be taken in this year’s NFL Draft. He was chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 124th pick overall.

Maybin (known to some of us around here simply as “Mayhem”) was poised to dominate his senior season last fall, but was able to play in only four games before a shoulder injury stole the remainder of his Tennessee career. Despite that, Maybin still had an incredibly productive career at Tennessee, posting a stat sheet that looks like it just finished Thanksgiving dinner: 240 tackles, 8 sacks for 56 yards, 27 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 4 pass breakups, 4 quarterback hurries, an interception and a certain bird in a certain holiday fruit tree.

More than that, the guy was a fantastic leader. Congratulations to our dear Mayhem. Best of luck.

 

Vols cornerback Cameron Sutton goes 94th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

Add Cam Sutton to the list of Vols taken in the first three rounds of this year’s NFL Draft. Sutton was the third Tennessee player taken when he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 94th overall pick. 

It became obvious with this pick that as the draft progresses, the information that the analysts have on the guys gets increasingly suspect. It’s not that they had Sutton wrong, it’s just that one of the first things out of their mouths was a question about durability because he played in only seven games last year. Missing half of the most recent season sounds like a big deal until you dig a little deeper and discover that Sutton started every single game in his entire Tennessee career up until his first injury last season.

Sutton leaves Tennessee as the school’s all-time leader in passes defended with 30, and he had seven interceptions over the course of his career despite teams generally trying to avoid his side of the field. He also returned 45 punts, three of them for touchdowns. The guy will be missed. 

Vols running back Alvin Kamara goes 67th overall to the New Orleans Saints in 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

VFL Alvin Kamara was the second Tennessee player to hear his name called at the 2017 NFL Draft. Kamara was just selected by New Orleans with the draft’s 67th overall pick. As we said earlier, he and Barnett were the first Tennessee players to be selected in the draft since Ja’Wuan James, Zach Fulton, and Daniel McCullers were taken back in 2014. 

Kamara spent two terrific years at Tennessee, mostly as the “second” back in a system that featured Jalen Hurd until he quit the team midseason last fall. Kamara, who had always been versatile and utilized in a variety of productive ways by the offensive playcallers, picked up the slack after Hurd departed and finished the season with 596 rushing yards and 392 receiving yards. All told, he tallied nearly 1,300 yards rushing, nearly 700 yards receiving, and 24 touchdowns, including one on a punt return. The guy was a key cog in the machine even as second fiddle when he probably should have been the starter.

We are so happy for Kamara. We’ll miss him in orange, but we’ll be happy to watch him have great success on Sundays. 

Vols defensive end Derek Barnett goes 14th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 NFL Draft (with highlights)

VFL Derek Barnett was the first Tennessee player to hear his name called at the 2017 NFL Draft. In front of a raucous home crowd, Barnett was just selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the draft’s 14th overall pick. He’s the first Tennessee player to be selected in the draft since Ja’Wuan James, Zach Fulton, and Daniel McCullers were taken back in 2014.  It’s been an embarrassing stretch in the desert, but it’s over now.

Barnett left Rocky Top early for the NFL on the heels of a three-year Tennessee career during which he set a new all-time career sack record with 33, overtaking Reggie White’s previous mark of 32. Barnett needed only three years to do it, getting 10 as a true freshman in 2014, another 10 the following year, and 13 this past season. He’s also had 52 tackles for loss in his career.

Barnett had more sacks (13) this year than Myles Garrett (8.5), who was this year’s first overall pick, and he also had more in his career (33) than Garrett had in his (32.5). I don’t point that out to discredit Garrett at all. He’s fantastic. It’s just that Barnett is just as good. The only reason Barnett went later in the draft than Garrett is because of stupid Combine and Pro-Day scores that measure things that defensive linemen don’t have to do. As I said earlier, it ain’t 40 yards to the quarterback, y’all. And he’s not straight up in the air, either.

Barnett and head coach Butch Jones were at the draft to enjoy the moment. 

Congrats to Barnett and his family. He’s made us Vols fans proud for three years now, and we’re happy to see him reap his rewards.

 

 

It’s Raining Defensive Backs

Tennessee continued its recent hot streak on the recruiting trail Thursday with verbal pledges from a pair of cornerbacks.

First, 6’0″, 175-pound cornerback Adonis Otey of Blackman High School in Murfreesboro decided to get the recruiting process over with in a hurry, committing to the Vols over a slew of early offers. The 2019 class member gives UT its fourth pledge from two classes down the road already. All of them are rated 4-star prospects on either 247Sports or Rivals, and all four are from the state of Tennessee.

Though Otey isn’t rated yet by 247, he’s an early 4-star on Rivals and had early offers from Florida, LSU, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Louisville and others. He joins Independence High School receivers TJ Sheffield and Kendrell Scurry as well as Chattanooga (Notre Dame HS) athlete Cameron Wynn as ’19 pledges.

Then, the Vols received some more good news later in the day when Olive Branch, Mississippi, cornerback Jaylon Reed decided to end the recruiting process. He’s a member of the 2018 class and continues UT’s recent surge following Saturday’s Orange & White Game. In the past week, the Vols have commitments from running back Jashaun Corbin, receiver Jatavious Harris and quarterback Michael Penix.

Also, fifth-year graduate transfer cornerback Shaq Wiggins gave the Vols some massive news when he elected to play his final year in Knoxville after transferring from Louisville. He’s buddies with departed running back Alvin Kamara who helped recruit him at this past weekend’s spring game. Wiggins also considered South Carolina and Mississippi State, and he should provide UT some much-needed help at a position of need in 2017. He has a great chance to step right in and start.

Though the Vols have a lot of talent on the back end of the defense, this spring showed the secondary again as one of the team’s biggest worries. With Cameron Sutton headed to the NFL, the Vols need a rotation to step up among cornerbacks Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, Marquill Osborne, D.J. Henderson, Baylen Buchanan and others. UT also has a trio of freshmen coming in with Shawn Shamburger, Cheyenne Labruzza and Terrell Bailey ready to step onto campus.

On top of the commits UT has enjoyed this past week, the Vols also received intriguing news that top quarterback target Adrian Martinez decommitted from California following his weekend visit to Knoxville. Though Martinez hasn’t pledged to UT yet, the Vols have to be seen as a frontrunner for his services.

As for Reed, the 6’1″, 170-pound defensive back had offers from Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Purdue, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and others. He’s blessed with good length and athleticism, and he appears to be a nice prospect. The Vols and new defensive backs coach Charlton Warren identified him as a top target and were excited for him to end the process.

It’s been a big week on the recruiting trail for the Vols, and it may not be finished with quarterbacks coach Mike Canales expected to visit Martinez in his California home this weekend.