Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Florida Visitor List

It's setting up to be the best environment inside Neyland Stadium in years. A pivotal game that could be the difference in Tennessee making a bowl or sitting at home for a 4th consecutive year, the checkerboard Neyland movement which promises to paint the stadium like never before, and an all-star list of recruiting prospects who will take it all in. It will be big.

A win would mean we simply need to take care of business against Kentucky at home and Vandy on the road (assuming we beat UTC which is a safe assumption) in order to make a bowl and show the world how far this program has progressed in such a short time and how prepared it is to take the next step. 

As I mentioned, it will be a big weekend for recruiting as several prospects Tennessee is chasing will be taking official visits along with several more who will be on unofficial visits. I've compiled a list of who will be there and will just mention briefly that while Ugo Amadi and Kyle Phillips initially planned to be in attendance, they have ultimately decided to attend the Ole Miss/Bama game instead. Here's the list.

2015 Official Visitors

  • LB Ricky Deberry
  • OT Pat Allen
  • DT Kahlil McKenzie (commit)
  • RB Johnny Frasier
  • CB Mook Reynolds
  • DE Darrell Taylor (commit)
  • CB Micah Abernathy
  • OL Matthew Burrell

Unofficial Visitors

2015

  • LB Jerome Baker?
  • RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn
  • LB Quarte Sapp
  • DE De'Andre Walker

    Commits
    • DE Andrew Butcher 
    • DT Shy Tuttle 
    • DT Khalil McKenzie
    • QB Quinten Dormady
    • P Tommy Townsend
    • OL Jack Jones
    • WR Preston Williams
    • LB Austin Smith
    • DT Quay Piccou
    • OL Chance Hall
    • TE Kyle Oliver
    2016
    • RB Tavien Feaster
    • LB Jaleel Laguins
    • CB Rontavius Groves
    • DB Nigel Warrior
    • RB Elijah Holyfield
    • LB Daniel Bituli
    • OL Drake Jackson
    • RB Antonio Williams
    • OT Bryce Mathews
    • TE Gabe Angel
    2017

    • ATH Maleik Gray
    • RB Ty Chandler
    2018
    • OL Cade Mays

    Friday, August 29, 2014

    Visitors for the Opener




    It's a big opening weekend for the Tennessee football team and a big opportunity to get recruits on campus with a Sunday day game with no competition from it's rivals for airtime and a vacation from school the following day, being Labor Day. As you would expect, the list is long of both 2015 and 2016 prospects set to take it all in.

    2015 Visitors

    DE Andrew Butcher (commit)
    ATH Joc Bruce (commit)
    DE Dylan Jackson (commit)
    S Jauan Jennings (commit)
    OL Zach Stewart (commit)
    RB Rocky Reid (commit)
    S Stephen Griffin (commit)
    OL Jack Jones (commit)
    TE Kyle Oliver (commit)
    ATH Vincent Perry
    DE Kyle Phillips
    DT Shy Tuttle
    LB Roquan Smith
    CB Ugo Amadi

    2016 Visitors

    OT Ryan Johnson (commit)
    QB Austin Kendall (commit)
    CB Donte Vaughn
    CB Marquill Osborne
    S Joejuan Williams
    DT Malik Walker
    RB BJ Emmons
    CB Mecole Hardman
    WR Dillon Mitchell
    S Donte Vaughn
    RB Moe Neal
    RB Antonio Williams
    OLB Tariqious Tisdale

    2017 Visitors

    QB Hunter Johnson



    Thursday, March 6, 2014

    Junior Day March 8th

    Spring practice starts Friday and it's another important weekend for recruiting. Here is a list of who is expected in for Junior Day this weekend.

    Junior Day March 8

    LB Tyler Cooksey
    LB Roquan Smith
    QB Nick Tiano
    QB Tommy Stevens
    QB Cole Kotopka
    QB Kelly Bryant
    QB Joe Burrow
    RB Bryce Love
    WR Tyron Johnson
    WR Van Jefferson
    WR Alex Ofodile
    WR Jalen McClesky
    DT Elijah Taylor
    DT Sterling Johnson
    DT Tyrell Jacobs
    DE Jalen Dalton
    DE Russell Ude
    DB Cam Ordway
    DB Micah Abernathy
    OL Venzel Boulware
    OL Marquelll Harrell
    OL Alex Givens
    OL/DL Dylan Jackson (commit)
    DE Andrew Butcher (commit)
    OL Zach Stewart (commit)
    OL Jack Jones (commit)

    2016

    DL Briston Guidry
    DL Malik Walker
    TE Jake Hausmann
    RB Kareem Walker

    Friday, February 14, 2014

    Jr. Day 2015 class #1 Feb 15

    Watch Emmit Gooden this weekend for a possible commit. Here's a list of everyone planning on being there this weekend for Jr. Day. The guys with a "?" were once scheduled to be here but I'm uncertain if they will make it in.

    • LB Darrin Kirkland Jr.
      DE Sterling Johnson
      WR CJ Sanders
      DE Darrian Roseboro
      OT Matthew Burrell
      DT Tim Settle
      LB Keaton Anderson
      WR Carl Tucker Jr.
      OT Austin Clark
      OL Zach Stewart (commit)
      FB/HB Joshua Thomas
      OT Matthew Burrell
      S Stephen Griffin
      DE Kyle Phillips ?
      OT Drew Richmond ?
      ATH Jaason Lewis ?
      CB Duke Shelley
      OLB Dee Smith
      DE Joc Bruce
      CB Cameron Ordway
      DE/OT Dylan Jackson (commit)
      ATH/Slot WR Jaylond Woods (commit)
      RB Keshawn Vaughn
      WR Jayson Stanley
      OLB Jaye Miner

      '16 commit CB Dorian Banks
      '16 DE Emmit Gooden (may commit)
      '16 OT Ryan Johnson
      '16 OT Bryce Matthews

    Wednesday, February 5, 2014

    National Signing Day 2014 NLIs

    First 14 are already enrolled

    1. Donatvius Blair
    2. Neiko Creamer
    3. Daniel Helm
    4. Jalen Hurd
    5. Jakob Johnson
    6. Josh Malone
    7. Emmanuel Moseley
    8. D'Andre Payne
    9. LaVon (Von) Pearson
    10. Ray Raulerson
    11. Coleman Thomas
    12. Owen Williams
    13. Ethan Wolf
    14. Demarya Mixon 
    15. Todd Kelly Jr.
    16. Dillon Bates 
    17. Vic Wharton
    18.  Rashaan Gaulden
    19. Derrell Scott 
    20. Aaron Medley
    21. Gavin Bryant 
    22. Treyvon Paulk
    23.  DeWayne Hendrix
    24. Jashon Robertson
    25.  Charles Mosley
    26. Derek Barnett 
    27. Michael Sawyers 
    28. Chris Weatherd 
    29. Cortez McDowell 
    30. Joe Henderson 
    31. Evan Berry
    32. Elliot Berry

    Thursday, January 30, 2014

    Top 10 Instate Targets for the 2015 Recruiting Class

    The days until Signing Day are now in the single digits and there's little to talk about in
    regards to the 2014 class so I thought I'd break down where we stand with some of the top instate targets in the 2015 class. We're in good shape with several top prospects instate so let's take a look at them. I'm looking at the 247 rankings so if you want to follow along, look up our targets and click Tennessee on the right to pull up the list.

    1. OT Drew Richmond 4* - Richmond was a frequent visitor on campus this past year and was present for Foundation Day 2014 in addition to taking in the Georgia and Vanderbilt games. He is tight with Charles Mosley which obviously helps the Vols and has been known to chat with some of our prospects on Twitter. Our biggest competition for Richmond is probably Ohio State but we edge them out slightly on the crystal ball.
    2. CB Rico McGraw 3* - McGraw committed to Georgia soon after the hire of Jeremy Pruitt as defensive coordinator. Tennessee will not give up though. Expect them to continue to recruit the talented corner.
    3.  SDE Kyle Phillips 4* - Phillips is another guy who's fairly familiar with UT's campus as he was also present for Foundation Day as well as taking in the Georgia game. This one is shaping up to be a Vanderbilt/Tennessee battle. Phillips is no stranger to Vandy's campus either. He's been there several times and distance wise is much closer to Nashville than Knoxville. His mother played women's basketball for the Commodores so there is certainly a draw but Tennessee has put itself in good position to battle for the uber-talented defensive end. Tommy Thigpen, our ace recruiter is Phillips' primary recruiter. He doesn't let the good ones get away very often.
    4. ATH Juan Jennings 4* - Tennessee has offered this talented athlete though many suspect they like him as an athlete instead of his preferred position of QB. Vandy had offered under the previous staff at QB but it's not clear whether he's in their plans still and if so at what position. Jennings is still wide open and hasn't named any leaders so this one will be interesting to watch.
    5. OLB Joshua McMillon 4* - McMillon intends to take his time with his recruitment and really explore his options. One of those options is Tennessee. McMillon visited the Volunteers back in June of last year. He is a Memphis guy and one who Ole Miss has targeted at the top of their wish list. Memphis guys are always a tough pull for the Vols but Butch has Tennessee squarely in the picture for McMillon.
    6. ILB Josh Smith 4* -  Josh loves the Vols but his brother is committed to Vanderbilt. I think he's going to be tough to pull away from the Commodores who are just 30 minutes down the road from him but I expect us to try. He's been on campus multiple times both with and without his brother and has friends committed to Tennessee currently.
    7. WR Van Jefferson 4* - Jefferson is the son of Titans WR coach Shawn Jefferson. Van resides in Middle Tennessee currently but has no ties necessarily to the area. Tennessee is trying with him but many expect him to go North to Ohio State or possibly even Penn State.
    8. OT Jack Jones 4* - Jones is committed to Tennessee.
    9. CB Ugo Amadi 3* - Amadi, who is a 4* on Rivals, holds a Tennessee offer and we are currently his favorite. Vandy may try with him but Butch has us in a good spot. Amadi was on Tennessee's campus to take in the Auburn game and came away impressed.
    10. OT Zach Stewart 3* - Stewart is committed to Tennessee
    Those are really the names you need to know at this time. A couple of guys just out of the top 10 are ATH Jaylond Woods who is committed to Tennessee but I'm hearing may not end up part of the 2015 class and Dylan Jackson who is also committed to Tennessee.