Photo: Tennessee Athletics
Following Jeremy Pruitt’s national championship game and celebration early this week, Tennessee’s new head coach and staff are bowing up for a big recruiting visit less than a month before the February 7 signing day.
Official Visitors
All rankings are 247 Sports Composite rankings unless otherwise noted.
JJ Peterson (Vol commit) – 4 star LB
Quay Walker (Bama commit) – 4 star LB
#GoVols 🍊( Official visit tomorrow ) pic.twitter.com/fAh4RnMNaJ
— 4 (@QuayWalker4) January 12, 2018
Warren Thompson – 4 star WR
Geordon Porter – 3 star WR
KNOXVILLE I HAVE ARRIVED!! #Vols
— GP® (@GeordonPorter) January 12, 2018
C’Bo Flemister – 3 star RB
Eddie Smith – 3 star CB
📍
— gods gift 8️⃣ (@eddiesmith_8) January 12, 2018
Mike Williams – 3 star DL
Brandon Aiyuk – 2 star WR
ROCKY TOP WASSUP WITH IT!! 🍊 pic.twitter.com/J24hfDBAlh
— Brandon Aiyuk (@THE2ERA) January 12, 2018
Kurott Garland – DL, ranking not listed
Jordan Young – (Update Jan. 19, 2018 1:58 p.m.: Young is now a 4-star WR according to 247Sports.)
Notes: Flemister is a Georgia Tech pledge who delayed his signing in December after getting a Tennessee offer, and he would add some much-needed depth to a backfield that just lost John Kelly to the NFL Draft. Walker has a solid connection with Pruitt, and he and Peterson would combine for an impressive linebacker tandem to sign after Pruitt’s short two months on the job.
Tennessee is hosting plenty of wide receiver talent, none more impressive than Thompson, who is one of the top wide receivers in the south. There weren’t too many surprises in that list, but the unofficial list is where things get fun.
Unoffical Visitors
Owen Pappoe (GA)- 5 star LB, class of 2019,
Tennessee this weekend #GBO @CoachJPruitt @MattDeBary
— Ronald Thompkins ll (@jrthompkins5) January 7, 2018
Quavaris Crouch (NC)- 5 star RB, class of 2019
Bryn Tucker (Knoxville Catholic, TN)- 4 star OT as ranked by 247Sports, class of 2020
Tennessee today🍊! @CoachWillFriend @CoachJPruitt
— Bryn Tucker (@TuckerBryn) January 13, 2018
Stiles Moore (Knoxville Catholic, TN)- OL, ranking not listed, class of 2020
Cooper Mays (Knoxville Catholic, TN)- OL, ranking not listed, class of 2020
Jackson Lampley (Montgomery Bell Academy, TN)- 4 star OT, class of 2019
Heading to Rocky Top tomorrow!!! #GBO
— Jackson Lampley (@JMLampley75) January 13, 2018
Darnell Wright (WV)- 4 star OT, class of 2019
Jaylen McCollough (GA)- 4 star DB, class of 2019
Tennessee this weekend #GBO 🍊
— Jaylen McCollough (@Jay_Mccollough2) January 9, 2018
Jalyn Phillips (GA)- 4 star DB, class of 2019
Kenyatta Watson (GA)- 4 star DB, class of 2019
Almost there Rocky Top #GBO🍊
— Kenyatta Watson II (@ballhawk36) January 13, 2018
Wanya Morris (GA)- 4 star OT, class of 2019
Ronald Thompkins (GA)- 4 star ATH, class of 2019
Tennessee this weekend #GBO @CoachJPruitt @MattDeBary
— Ronald Thompkins ll (@jrthompkins5) January 7, 2018
Kevin Harris (GA)- 4 star LB, class of 2019
Kenyon Jackson (GA)- 4 star WR, class of 2019
Notes: There’s more talent here than Tennessee has hosted in weekend in a while. Two schools are sending a combined nine of 14 of the unofficial visitors: Knoxville Catholic is sending three while Grayson High School in Georgia is sending an eyebrow-raising six.
The Vols are hitting the offensive line and safety position hard for the 2019 class. With Micah Abernathy and Todd Kelly Jr. gone after next season, Pruitt and company know the importance of lining up depth in the secondary (the same goes for offensive line, especially at tackle.)
The real gems of the day come from a surprise visit from Crouch, Pappoe’s appearance in Knoxville and the loaded talent from the state of Georgia. Crouch is the No. 3 running back in the country for next year’s class while Pappoe is ranked the No. 1 linebacker and No. 5 overall prospect in the class of 2019.
To compete with Kirby Smart and his runner-up Bulldogs, the Vols are hosting six teammates from Grayson, all of whom are ranked 4-star athletes by 247Sports’ composite rankings. A good impression this weekend could pay huge dividends for the coaching staff, especially if more than one of the Grayson teammates enjoy their time on Rocky Top.
