Vols look to cement top five recruiting class for second straight year
When Butch Jones was hired at Tennessee in Dec. 2012, fans across the country began asking questions. Of those questions, one in particular was debated by Vol fans for quite some time. Can Jones recruit in the SEC?
When Butch Jones was hired at Tennessee in Dec. 2012, fans across the country began asking questions. Of those questions, one in particular was debated by Vol fans for quite some time. Can Jones recruit in the SEC?
To that, Jones answered with bricks.
After compiling the No. 7 ranked recruiting class in 2014 according to 247Sports.com, Jones has the Vols in the No. 4 spot for this year’s class as National Signing Day approaches. Knoxville already has a glimpse of the talent coming this summer with the likes of Alvin Kamara, Jauan Jennings and Kyle Phillips among 10 early enrollees already on campus.
Tennessee has 18 other verbal commitments for a total of 28 athletes who, as of National Signing Day Eve, are expected to be Tennessee Volunteers. Of these 28 athletes, 16 are ranked by 247Sports.com in the top 15 of their respective positions nationwide. Twelve of those are in the top 10 at their positions. Five are in the top 5.
In case anyone needed proof about the quality of athlete Jones is bringing in.
Missing from the 2015 class ─ possibly not for long ─ is the state of Tennessee’s No. 2 ranked prospect Drew Richmond. Richmond, an offensive tackle and Ole Miss commit since last September, decommitted from Ole Miss earlier this week and could be joining Tennessee’s 2015 class.
There has been some speculation about current Tennessee commitments blueshirting ─ arriving on campus as a preferred walk-on and earning a scholarship ─ to make room for possible late additions to the signing class.
Another uncommitted recruit that could sign a letter of intent to Tennessee on Wednesday is offensive tackle Patrick Allen from Reisterstown, Maryland. Allen is the No. 4 ranked prospect out of Maryland, and a potential steal for the Vols at a position of need. Allen was committed to Georgia, but decommitted during the change of offensive coordinators and will probably sign with either the Bulldogs or the Vols.
The addition of either (or both) of these bricks to Jones’ 2015 recruiting class would undoubtedly give the Vols their second consecutive top five recruiting class. Some might call it icing on the cake.
In Knoxville, they are bricks on the foundation.
Recruiting ranking courtesy of 247sports.com
Edited by Cody McClure
Nathan is a junior at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He spends most of his free time eating meaningless foods and watching sports. If you wish to contact Nathan, you can email him at wodom3@vols.utk.edu or find him on Twitter, @NathanOdom11.
