Signee Profile: Ryan Thaxton
Defensive end Ryan Thaxton is so fast, he covers kickoffs on special teams. Read about this member of Tennessee’s 2017 signing class.
A Pride of the Southland member falls in line before the Vols play Kentucky on Nov. 12, 2016.
Biography
Ryan Thaxton is a defensive end from Alexandria, Virginia, that stands about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 240 pounds. Thaxton is part of a crucial defensive end signing group that has to replace the production of career-sack leader Derek Barnett and his counterpart Corey Vereen.
Rankings
247Sports: No. 40 strong side defensive end, No. 847 overall player for the class of 2017
Rivals: No. 34 strong side defensive end, not ranked nationally by Rivals for the class of 2017
ESPN: No. 95 defensive end, not ranked in the ESPN 300 for the class of 2017
Offers
Other than the Vols, Thaxton’s SEC offers came from Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Air Force, Cincinnati, Rutgers and Virginia also offered Thaxton a scholarship.
Film Review
Speed is the name of the game for Ryan Thaxton. Want something that raises eyebrows about Thaxton? He covers kickoffs on special teams. Thaxton made his metaphorical money in high school by beating kick-out blocks to the ball and reading his keys. With guidance from Steve Stripling and Rock Gullickson, Thaxton should give a boost to a quickly depleting defensive end group on Rocky Top.
Edited by David Bradford
Featured image by Sumner Gilliam
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.
