Tennessee’s recruiting momentum has rolled on like a freight train over the last few weeks, with this weekend being no exception.
Four-star defensive tackle KaTron Evans has officially announced his commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers via Twitter.
1000 % Committed #GBO🍊 pic.twitter.com/ezI6PXOB7x
— KaTron Evans (@ColtBoyKayy) May 9, 2020
The Vols are getting a player that can battle and take away space in the trenches, as Evans would already be the second-heaviest defensive lineman on the 2020 spring roster behind redshirt freshman Elijah Simmons according to UT Sports.
What’s In Store for the Future?
Standing at 6-4 and weighing in at 320 pounds, Evans is the ninth-best defensive tackle in the 2021 class and the fourth highest-ranked commit in Tennessee’s class according to 247 Sports and will be a key tool for Jeremy Pruitt in the coming years.
Pruitt and new defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh will be able to rely heavily on their upperclassmen next year. As things stand on the current 2020 roster, the Vols have 15 defensive linemen, seven of which are seniors. As great as the experience will be for the upcoming year, it will leave many spots on the line vacant heading into 2021.
Evans’ commitment to Tennessee will give the coaching staff more flexibility whenever the next recruiting class arrives to campus and should likely see early competition with 2020 recruits such as Dominic Bailey, Omari Thomas, and Reginald Perry for play time.
With Evans and the players mentioned who are arriving to campus from the 2020 class soon, the Vols will have an abundance of depth at defensive tackle over the next few years. The connecting line between the type of player that Pruitt is recruiting for this position is size. Bailey (now at 303 lbs. according to UT Sports), Thomas, Perry, and Evans all weigh above 300 pounds, which is something Pruitt has always preached the importance of for his linemen.
The added long-term depth is important of course, but that isn’t to take anything away from his pure talent. Long-term depth in this case just means a player who has every capability to be a quality starter on the team at some point, but may even have impact moments early in his career as well. Evans is a strong, powerful, and disruptive football player, and exactly the kind of player you see Pruitt favor on the line. Not to mention, the more confidence the staff has in it’s interior linemen, the more freedom they have with the outside edge rushers.
And Tennessee should be able to capitalize on that edge with the likes of Terrence Lewis and Dylan Brooks on the way to Rocky Top. Evans is the second defensive tackle commit for the Vols in the 2021 class, behind Isaac Washington, a three-star from North Carolina.
What’s In Store for this Weekend?
Many Tennessee fans and recruiting experts don’t expect the weekend to stop here on the recruiting front, though. Four-star quarterback Kaidon Salter and four-star outside linebacker Aaron Willis will both be announcing their commitments on Sunday, holding 100 and 90 percent crystal ball predictions to Tennessee from 247 Sports, respectively.
5.10.20 1:00pm #StayTuned pic.twitter.com/TEdDGJJhuf
— ksalt (@KaidonSalter_7) May 9, 2020
Aaron Willis is also a teammate of KaTron Evans at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.
Committing May 10th
12pm ‼️‼️ on my Instagram @44crzy— Aaron Willis (@44crzy) May 4, 2020
Landing Evans is a complete home run for Tennessee, but like any great offensive team, a grand slam may still only be a few more pitches away.
