With the obvious caveat that even the early Signing Day for the 2021 class is ten months out, the early recruiting returns on new TE Coach Joe Osovet are incredibly encouraging. While perhaps that should not be surprising given that his name was brought up by multiple recruits in the 2020 cycle despite being in an off-field role and therefore not able to recruit off campus, along with the fact that he’s a former JUCO head coach with extensive ties in the Northeast, his promising start on the trail is a great sign. Because if Osovet is indeed a bigtime recruiter, the offseason staff changes made by Coach Jeremy Pruitt – including upgrading from David Johnson to Jay Graham at RB Coach (not to shortchange Johnson, but it is what it is); and Jimmy Brumbaugh for Tracy Rocker (who Tennessee would have been better off had he simply did what he prefers and not recruit at all) will look that much better.
To wit, Osovet is the lead recruiter for the following players, mostly from MD and PA, (247 Sports rankings in parentheses) that Tennessee is in deep with:
DE Demeioun Robinson (20): A premier player in this class, Robinson has been to Knoxville multiple times and Osovet has developed a deep relationship with both Demeioun and his family. To wit: perhaps not coincidentally, Robinson’s two older brothers enrolled at Osovet’s former JUCO, ASA Brooklyn in the 2020 class and both came on his most recent visit along with their father
WR Donte Thornton (55): A former PSU commitment, Thornton came to Knoxville last summer for Tennessee’s “Rocky Top Cookout” recruiting event and then after a trip to Oregon backed off that Nittany Lions pledge. He was back on campus at the beginning of this month for a Junior Day and clearly likes both Osovet as well as WR Coach Tee Martin. With WR spots at a premium in this class and one already locked up by Jordan Moseley – a very, very good player himself – Thornton is likely right at the top of the Vols board
CB Ryan Barnes (469): That ranking is more likely to simply have the “4” removed than to be anywhere near where it currently is in the not too distant future. The Vols offered Barnes first, back in November 2019, and he now has offers from the likes of Clemson, LSU, Georgia and Florida. Barnes will be at Clemson on March 7 and then back in Knoxville the following weekend, giving the Vols a chance to really solidify themselves in what will almost certainly end up a bigtime battle
CB Dejahn Warren (JUCO): Based on offers alone Warren is likely the top JUCO in the country, and Tennessee gave him his first one in November. Since then, Alabama, Penn State Oklahoma and others have joined the Vols but Osovet’s relationship has the Vols very much in the mix. Warren plans on being in Knoxville for Tennessee’s first big March Junior Day the weekend of the 7th and that will be a big visit now that Warren has exploded onto the scene. As an early enrollee who clearly is very talented, Warren is the kind of instant impact JUCO that the Vols will be looking for in this class
WR Christian Velleuix (418): At or near the top of Tennessee’s recently expanded QB board, Velleuix is another player that Osovet has been working for some time. Where he ultimately sits on Tennessee’s board is TBD, but the same could be said for programs like PSU and Clemson (both of whom are waiting on another QB, and therefore, each other). Osovet has positioned the Vols to where they have the option of pushing or not, a decision which ultimately will be made by Pruitt, Jim Chaney, and QB Coach Chris Weinke
LB Greg Penn (283): A Top 100 player overall by Rivals, Penn has OSU, LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina among his favorites. Citing his relationship with Osovet, he plans on visiting Knoxville in March as the Vols try to make a move. How it plays out from there is TBD, but Penn is yet another “elite” player Osovet for whom has gotten Tennessee in the mix
DL Taleeq Robbins (548): Another player whose early ranking belies his offer list, Robbins will be in Knoxville for the March 7th Junior Day as the Vols try to join programs like Michigan and Texas A&M for the talented DL from Philly. He’ll be joined by two very talented 2022 Philadelphia natives, including teammate and Top 30 prospect DE Enai White as well as OLB Ken Talley who holds offer from PSU, UF and others
DT Terrion Sugick (600): The former UVA commitment also has offers from Florida and now Tennessee after an early February visit to Knoxville and is another Maryland product who Osovet has the Vols firmly in play for
DT Tyas Martin (684): Martin, an Arkansas native, was on campus in early February and has Tennessee at the very top of his list. The big man showed out at the The All-American Bowl National Junior Combine in January and now has Oklahoma looking to join the Vols, UVA and Virginia Tech as early contenders. He’s yet another Osovet recruit
As Tennessee looks to take its program to another level in terms of talent, it is a must that it continue to recruit against and beat the elite programs in the country for elite talent. In order to do that, Pruitt has to have a staff with as many top-end recruiters as possible. With former National Recruiters of the Year Tee Martin and Brian Niedermeyer already on staff already, Osovet emerging as a bigtime recruiter would really position Tennessee’s staff as one of the best in the country and give the Vols a real shot at not just its third straight Top 10 national class but potentially a Top 5 finish. His ability to finish will be tested for sure, but for now Vol fans can feel good that he’s off to a very strong start.