The Recruiting Fix: Running back clutter

 

Welcome back to the Recruiting Fix. Not as much to talk about today. There hasn't been very much in the way of news, but there are some things we should cover.

This running back situation merits writing about I think. It has even me confused about who is going where and if this guy commits to school A does prospect B fall to us or them. So I'm going to do my best to break it down as far as who is in the running for whom.

I really think David Williams will be one of our running backs this year though I think we would take two. Recently Williams said that Tennessee and South Carolina stand out and that he has a great relationship with Coach Graham at Tennessee. I don't think Williams commits until he takes his official visit. That's reportedly what he has told Jalen Reeves-Maybin. And Williams has yet to schedule an official visit.

Derrick Henry likely ends up at Alabama. I don't know why he would go there with two highly recruited running backs already committed, but that's what I think happens. There is still a chance we can win him over when he officials the week of the UF game but Bama has a big lead.

Henry is also visiting Alabama the week after the UT visit and not announcing until his team plays on ESPN on September 28^th. Even more reason to think that he ends up at Alabama.

Derrick Green is somewhat of a mystery. Some say he nearly committed to Auburn on a visit recently. Others say Michigan is going to be tough to beat. I think he's a long shot for us but we are right up there with Auburn and Michigan. He is planning to official here though he has yet to set up a date. Coaches want him here for the Florida game. That's when Henry is coming which is strange to have two top running backs here for the same game, but I think the coaches feel better about their chances of landing Green.

He says he will definitely official to Tennessee and Auburn and he already has a Michigan date set for the Michigan State game. Should be a good atmosphere.

Alvin Kamara likely ends up at Georgia from everything I hear but anything can happen. His top 3 is UT, Bama, UGA. Tennessee will get a visit. Beyond that, I'm guessing. He could fall into our lap if Bryant ends up at Georgia though. It is certainly possible.

Greg Bryant is still out there after decomitting from Oklahoma and I think he ends up in the SEC though I cannot tell you where. Georgia is an option but they are also in it for Kamara which is interesting. Alabama likes Bryant as a defensive back for no other reason than they plan on having Henry, Tenpenny, and Tyren Jones at running back in this class and they are full up when that happens.

Auburn is a possibility as well as it was Auburn fans who predicted he would decommit and then commit to them, but if that happens Green likely lands elsewhere as Auburn would then have Wilkins and Bryant committed and I think they are done after that.

South Carolina is another possibility for Bryant. They are looking for a big time running back in this class to add to Jamari Smith whom they have committed. Don't count them out.

Tarean Folston was close to committing to Tennessee on his visit it has been said. He's a good running back who is going to have a great season. He blocks well, he catches well out of the backfield. I don't know if he's a guy you can hand the ball to 20+ times a game but perhaps we don't need a workhorse anyway. South Florida is high on this Florida running back's list as is Miami. I dare not offer a prediction on where he ends up at this point.

AJ Turman is another 4 star running back we have yet to mention. UGA is high on his list as is Tennessee. Some said Florida State was where he would end up early but it looks like they will not take another running back. He wants to visit Clemson and he wants to decide early in the season where he will go so he can concentrate on his high school season.

I'll only mention Marquez Grayson to say he is probably not a take. I think we land two of the guys above. He would like to be a Vol but I do not see it happening.

In other news Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been bumped to a 4 star player on Rivals due to his work at safety in camps this summer, which is his likely position at the next level. Rivals analysts like his size and instincts. While we are on the subject of Reeves-Maybin, he was nearly unstoppable in his game vs. Rossview Friday night rushing for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Fans in the stands at the Clarksville school sang Rocky Top in celebration of the 34-20 victory.

Chauntez Jackson is a guy we haven't talked about but that is my fault. There is definitely mutual interest. He is listed as a defensive end on most sites but we are recruiting him to play tight end here. The Vols lead and have for awhile. He is also interested in Arizona.

He has good size for tight end at 6'4 235 lbs and would be a good addition to the class. Rivals has him listed as a 3 star defensive end.

Toby Johnson is in the process of narrowing his list to 10 schools. He does say he wants to take an official to Tennessee now but he wants to do it after the season. He and Cordarrelle Patterson speak on a daily basis and he talks to the Tennessee staff once a week. His roommate at Hutchinson is Ben Bradley who is already committed to Tennesseee. I don't see how this guy ends up anywhere but here.

Jatavius Stewart says West Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee are his three favorite schools.

“My father is a big Georgia fan and someone from my high school went to Tennessee. West Virginia
always had an up-tempo offense that I liked." He told Rivals.

Stewart will definitely take an official to see Tennessee as well as officials to West Virginia, Georgia, Kansas State, and Arkansas.

I continue to see no reason Stewart doesn't end up a Vol. He followed me on twitter which I find interesting and kind of cool. But he's got former teammates here and current teammates that are committed here. I fully expect him to commit to Tennessee.

There is another JUCO receiver who popped up, Jaelen Strong. He is close with David Williams which is why he is now in the picture. They would like to play at the same school.

Strong is trying to get his schooling done by May which would allow him to enroll in 2013. I think it is more likely that he will be an early-enrollee in the 2014 class. No Vol offer yet, but the coaches are keeping an eye on him and will evaluate him in person at one of his games. He is 6'4” 205 and reports a 4.5 40 time.

Myles Autry is a 2014 guy who is teammates with Alvin Kamara which means also that he is a former teammate of Jason Croom. Has a Vol offer early in the process and has some other good offers as well such as Florida State, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. He has a brother who plays for Tech so they are definitely a school to watch out for. 247 rates him as a 4 star athlete.

He is 5'11” 175. Most are recruiting him at running back.

Another 2014 guy to keep an eye on is linebacker Petera Wilson, a teammate of current UT commitment David Carr and Tennessee target cornerback/wide receiver Donald Gray. He's 6'3” 214 going into his junior year.

Brendan Langley who commited to South Carolina recently says he'll visit Tennessee this fall. I don't see anything changing there though.

Receiver Kris Comas is ineligible to play in JUCO this year. That being the case you can basically cross him off of Tennessee's list. I don't think he was a take anyway.

JUCO wide receiver Jonathan Rumph will official to Tennessee on September the 22^nd.

Linebacker Jermaine Grace set up an official visit to Tennessee. I'm not sure of the date though.

We are no longer in offensive lineman Dorian Miller's top 3. That's as of now. Who knows if he will official here, but his stated top 3 currently is Rutgers, Uconn, and North Carolina. I think he ends up staying home and playing for Rutgers. But do not forget about Kohler. We have him pretty much in the bag already. Just waiting for his moment in the sun.

Defensive end Demarcus Walker committed to Alabama Friday. He claims Auburn was a close 2^nd and I don't see this one being completely over yet. I doubt we land him but Florida and Auburn are both going to still recruit him.

Another guy off the board is Mack Weaver who committed to Vanderbilt. He will probably end up on the defensive line there. I think we were wanting him to play tight end.