The benefit of coaching stability on recruiting and restocking the talent on this team will become more and more apparent over the next few years, as the coaches are able to develop a positive rapport around the nation. The coaches didn't have the luxury of time when it came to building a positive rapport with high school coaches, recruits and their families this year. They have, however, done a stellar job on the recruiting trail thus far.
From here I will give a short breakdown on currently committed recruits, as well as, who I believe will fill out the remaining spots in this class.
CURRENTLY COMMITTED:
QB: Justin Worley - Gatorade National POY. Early enrollee. Ideal size. Rated a 3* prospect on Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247 recruiting services. Questions about mechanics, arm strength.
RB: Tom Smith - 3* on Rivals, Scout, ESPN, 247. Already 6' 200lbs, looks college ready. Will get early carries following transfer of Oku. Questions about breakaway speed.
RB: Devrin Young - Dominated East TN at Bearden HS. 2* on ESPN. 3* on Rivals, Scout, 247. Only 5'7. Will not contribute much early on on O, but can provide immediate impact on special teams.
WR: DeAnthony Arnett - Played in Army AA game. 4* on all services. Consensus top-5 WR. Will play early at slot receiver. Perfect compliment to Hunter, Rogers. "Unguardable" at Army practices and camps.WR: Vincent Dallas - Early enrollee. Similar to Arnett but not as polished. Blazing speed. Can play early in the slot or on special teams.
TE: Brendan Downs - Early enrollee. Athletic TE from Bristol. Probable RS. Perfect TE size. 3* on all services.
T: Alan Posey - Huge T prospect from GA. Choose UT over Clemson. Should be a RS.
G: Kyler Kerbyson - Top OL prospect from Catholic HS. Offered by UF, USC, Bama, etc. Would RS in ideal situation but thin OL may press him into action. 4* on Scout.
G: Marcus Jackson - Early enrollee. Top-10 G prospect. Played in UA AA game. Will push for early PT. 4* on Rivals, ESPN, 247.
C: Mack Crowder - Early enrollee. Teammate of Downs at Bristol HS. 3* on all services. Consensus top-10 C prospect. Should RS.
DE: Jordan Williams - Athletic freak. 3* on all services. From Gainesville, FL. College-ready body. Will play early at thin DE spot.
DT: Maurice Couch - Top-8 Junior College prospect. Most important recruit in class, at position of need. Immediate impact, possible starter. 4* on Rivals, Scout. 5* on 247.
DT: Trevarris Saulsberry - Teammate of J Williams at Gainesville HS. Should RS. Not college ready. Not expected to contribute early. 3*.
DT: Allan Carson - HUGE DT prospect from AL. 6'2 320. Shouldn't contribute much early but could get PT. Staff feels he is a diamond in the rough. No other big offers. 3* on Scout, 247.
LB: AJ Johnson - 4*, top-150 prospect. Played in UA AA game. Will play early. Already 6'3 235. Could grow into a DE but will start at MLB.
LB: Christian Harris - 3* offered at camp by Lance Thompson. Not heavily recruited. Big LB, 6'2 230. Possible RS, depending on depth.
CB: Justin Coleman - 4* on Rivals, 247. Early enrollee. Will compete for early PT at CB and on ST.
CB: Izauea Lanier - Top-15 JuCo prospect. 4* on Rivals. Perfect CB size. Expected to play early, push for starting spot.
DB: Tino Thomas - 3* from Memphis. Ideal measurables 6'1 190, 4.4. Should RS but could contribute on ST.
DB: Geraldo Orta - 4* on ESPN. Former Clemson commit. Questions about speed. May be just ahead of Thomas; could contribute on D, ST.
S: Brian Randolph - 3*. Huge hitter. Expected by many to contribute early both on D, ST. Possible backup at S.
S: Pat Martin - 4* on Rivals, ESPN. Big hitter. Will contribute early on ST, D. Early commit, great recruiter.
PROSPECTS:
RB: Marlin Lane - 4*. Longtime Clemson commit. Down to UT, FSU, UM. Great size. Knee injury jr year caused big drop in ratings this year. Compared to Arian Foster by Rivals.
TE: Cameron Clear - 4*, top-150 prospect. Jumbo athlete from Memphis. Could play TE, OT, DE; prefers TE. Must get. Considered Vol lean. Down to UT, Bama, Barn, Duke.
TE: Brandon Fulse - 4*. Played in UA AA game. Not expected to qualify. Would have immediate impact. Says he is wide open. Considered an Auburn lean.
OT: Antonio Richardson - 4*. Played in Army AA game. Top instate prospect. Must get. Considered a Vol lean. Down to UT, UGA, Barn. May visit USC 1/28.
DE: Leon Mackey - 4*. Big JuCo DE. Down to UT, MSU. Would have immediate impact. Hasn't qualified previous 2 years; I don't expect him to now.
DT: Gabe Wright - 4*, top-150 prospect. Big time DT. Played in UA AA game. Would play early. Down to Barn, UT. Said to have silently committed to both staffs. Knows how to play the recruiting game. Not a must get but a definite need.
DT: Mickey Johnson - 4*, top-150. Similar to Wright, not a must get but a need. Would play early. Down to UT, LSU. Less than 50% chance of qualifying.
LB: Lamar Dawson - 4*, top-150. Played in Army AA game. Big LB, 6'3 230. Top prospect in KY. Would have immediate impact. KY lean. Down to UT, KY, UCF, USC, UO, UF.
LB: Curt Maggitt - 4*, top-150. Incredible speed. Top-5 pass rusher in class. Needs to add weight, 6'4, 210. From FL. Reportedly wants to leave state. Down to UT, Wisc, UF. Immediate impact.
DB: Byron Moore - 4*, top-5 JuCo prospect. Formerly at USC. Would start at CB or S from day 1. Down to UM, UT. UM lean. Being pushed to UM by father.
S: Eddrick Loften - Committed to UT in 2010 class. Didn't qualify. Still hasn't qualified. Being counted in '11 class, but I do not expect him to get in. Could head to JuCo.
ATH: Willie Carmichael - Unranked. Explosive athlete from Greeneville. Doesn't have the grades to qualify and has not been recruited because of that but is supposed to visit UT 1/28. I really want Carmichael to end up at UT, but first he will have to go the JuCo/Prep school route.
MY PREDICTION:
RB: Lane - UT - could happen any day.
TE: Clear - UT - staying in state.
TE: Fulse - Barn, JuCo
OT: Richardson - UT - staying in state.
DE: Mackey - MSU
DT: Wright - UT - honestly, I have no idea. Just being optimistic. I do think one of Wright or Johnson ends up at UT.
DT: Johnson - LSU, JuCo
LB: Dawson - KY - I'm torn here. If Dooley can win over the family, Dawson will be a Vol.
LB: Maggitt - UT - wants to leave FL. Loved UT visit. Wisconsin is just too far. One of Maggitt or Dawson will end up in orange.
DB: Moore - UM
S: Loften - UT, S&P-JuCo - maybe Loften can get here after 2 years in JuCo.
ATH: Carmichael - I don't see Carmichael signing with anyone; just going straight to JuCo.
Everything I've heard says that UT's class will have 27 prospects in it. I'm going with 28. Because of NCAA rules, only 26 players can enroll in school, meaning 2 players will end up going the Prep school or JuCo route or someone(s) may decommit. I expect Loften to end up in a JuCo, however, I have no info as to who else, if anyone, may. The possibility is always there, though. Examples: John Brown, Loften, Dave Clark from '10 class, James Green from ' 09 class. I haven't heard of any player wavering on their commitment. Tino Thomas recently made an official visit to USM and had good things to say. Tino or someone else could look elsewhere, but I do not see that happening.
One more thing. There has been much speculation of a "big fish" 5*, surprise recruit ending up in orange. Many names have been thrown around: FSU RB commit James Wilder Jr., DT Timmy Jernigan, TE Jay Rome, DE Anthony Chickillo, DE Jadeveon Clowney, etc. I don't see any of these happening. Of course anything is possible...
GO VOLS!
