Tennessee’s Early Signing Period class ranks #13 in the country and #6 in the SEC. These respective rankings of course do not count the addition of the Aubrey Solomon, who was a 5-star DT in the class of 2017 and has played in both of his seasons at Michigan – the equivalent of the bluest of blue-chip JUCOS is probably understating it. They do show both the strength of the SEC as well as the difficulty of the league overall (SEC teams hold the Top 4 spots!!!) and the latter ranking could perhaps cause one to view the class as a slight disappointment in a league of 14. However, a deeper dive gives one more reasons for optimism, especially when viewed from the prism of “How can Tennessee take a big step forward not just in the SEC but more importantly in the SEC East and relative to teams against whom it has struggled mightily of late.” The Volunteer class is #2 in the SEC East, behind UGA (who sits at #2 overall) and one spot ahead of Florida. The Gators are the team that Tennessee should expect to compete with in the East, along with UGA, who for now everyone is chasing. But of course that’s an expectation not based on current rosters or results, as the Vols find themselves looking up in the standings at the likes of South Carolina (#21 overall); Kentucky (#31 overall) , Missouri (#34 overall), and even Vanderbilt (#49 overall). The fact that that – again even ignoring the addition of Solomon – before what promises to be a fruitful Late Signing Period for the Vols they sit ahead of all of the other SEC East teams is a promising sign. Digging a bit deeper, the Vols actually signed only one fewer 247 Composite 5 and 4-star players (8) than the rest of the non-Florida SEC East team combined
Another reason to be excited about Tennessee’s early signees is the impressive depth of class. While you undoubtedly need 5 and 4-star studs like OLB Quarvaris Crouch and OL Wanya Morris (and Solomon) – and 11 of the 19 signees are rated 4-star or higher by one of 247 or Rivals – when you’re rebuilding the roster like Jeremy Pruitt is in Knoxville you also have to have quality all the way down to the bottom of your class’s individual player rankings
Tennessee’s class has, unsurprisingly, no players lower than 3-stars. But that belies the fact that among Tennessee’s 3-star signees there are players who held legitimate offers from the likes of Clemson (TE Jackson Lowe); Michigan and Texas (OL Chris Akporoghene); Auburn (TE Sean Brown, CB Warren Burrell and LB/S Aaron Beasley); FSU (OL Melvin McBride); and Georgia and Alabama (DL Darrel Middleton). Tennessee’s 3-star QB signee Brian Maurer – an early enrollee – had West Virginia as his other finalist. Further, arguably the class’s biggest sleeper is WR Jerrod Means, a prospect who clocked a 4.4 40-yard dash at a UT summer camp at 6’2, 200 lbs and won a spot on Georgia’s All-Region 4-AAAAAA team. A cursory glance at his HUDL gives one a hint at why other than UNC he might have been fairly lightly recruited – he plays Safety half the time, and among his offensive highlights are a bunch of handoffs for a 7-5 team that was likely trying to get one of its best playmakers the ball any way it could regardless of his future college position. And finally, NG Elijah Simmons is a 350 pound wrecking ball with the athleticism to dunk a basketball, throw the discus, javelin, and shot put, and return an INT 55 yards for a touchdown. It’s simply a deep, deep class that has the kind of star power you need at the top but solid-at-worst players all the way down, exactly what Tennessee’s roster needs
At this point the only Defensive Back on the board for Tennessee is Jammie Robinson. Assuming the Vols do want to add another DB to the class and don’t want to put all of their eggs in that basket, don’t be surprised if Tennessee kicks the tires on CB DJ James from Spanish Fort, AL. James is a Mississippi State commitment who didn’t sign in the early period after getting a late offer from instate Auburn. He also got offers on Friday from Oregon and Nebraska, indicating that not only do people smell a soft commitment but also might think that the Tigers aren’t necessarily going to be unbeatable. James visited Tennessee back in the spring and picked up a Vol offer on that visit, and he has a prior relationship from having visited Alabama a few times while Pruitt was the DC there. James has 4 OVs left to take, with his one having already been to Mississippi State. Expect Bama to also get involved in what could end up being one of the most heated Late Signing Period recruitments of the year
Another player that could be an interesting add to the board should Tennessee wish to add a 5th OL to the class – assuming they land Darnell Wright – is OG Kamaar Bell. Bell, from the same Colquitt County HS in South Georgia that produced DL Ja’Quain Blakeley and 5-star 2018 LB JJ Peterson, is an interior mauler much like OU signee EJ Ndoma-Ogar, who the Vols coveted and made a run at until the end. He holds offers from all of the other SEC big boys including Alabama, Auburn, and Florida, and this past weekend received a tender from FSU and immediately set up a visit for the January 25th weekend, his only one so far. The needs elsewhere could ultimately mitigate the Vols’ interest level, but given the close ties between Tennessee and his high school you might see the Vols throw their hat in the ring and see what transpires
Speaking of former targets that didn’t sign last week, DL Kristian Williams had somewhat surprisingly committed to Minnesota but elected not to sign. Williams, a 4-star DL on 247 Sports, was a standout at both a major LSU camp last summer (where he dominated one-on-one matchups including vs. 5-star OG Kardell Thomas) as well as at a combine in May where he showed out as one of the most athletic defensive players. Williams is also a city champion in shot put and at 6’2, 275 has really good strength and quickness. Depending on how things shake out both on the DL – and the addition of Solomon could make the addition of another DL a luxury – as well as at other positions, Williams could be a nice find for the Vols come February
Scratch WR Xavier Legette off of Tennessee’s February list after he signed on Friday with homestate South Carolina when the Cocks came through with a full scholarship. Legette was a Tier II target for the Vols but it is notable that their WR options are now one fewer
Could Bama be filling up, and could that help with stud LB target Henry To’oto’to? The Tide exited the early signing period with 23 signees, 3 unsigned commitments, and room for ~4-5 more signees. They are in the Top 2-3 (at worst) for DE Khris Bogle (for whom Tennessee is likely 3rd but perhaps within shouting distance) and CB Marcus Banks, both of whom are set to announce on January 5th at the Army All-America Game. They’re also major players for DT Ishmael Sopsher; DT Nathan Pickering (another MSU commit); CB Noa Pola–Gates; DT Jaquaze Sorrells; and DE Jared Harrison-Hunte. The consensus opinion is that they’ll make room for To’oto’to, and they likely won’t land all of their other targets in the first place. However, this situation is firmly in play and will be one to watch into January