The 2018 recruiting cycle is nearing its end, but coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff are continually reaching out to the class of 2018.
However, after Feb. 7, the 2019 and 2020 classes will be points of emphasis for the Vols. This past week was monumental for recruiting because it focused on the next three classes and Tennessee took complete advantage.
As soon as Pruitt assumed power at Tennessee, everyone knew he meant business. He followed through that ideal with his recruiting prowess. He emphasizes the importance of top-tier players and lets no other school scare him from offering any recruit he wants, which he showed this week.
Offers
Ryan Winkel, OT – Memphis, Tenn. – 2018
To close out the 2018 class, the Vols’ staff sent out an offer to an in-state offensive tackle, a position of dire need.
He is a bit on the leaner side for his position at 6 feet 6 inches and 280 pounds, but he shows promise in his technique. He emphasizes his run-blocking ability, and has the mindset of a bulldozer-type blocker.
His pass-blocking needs a bit of work, but his strength combined with a renewed lateral quickness will help him compete in the SEC. Tennessee, Mississippi State and Arkansas were named his finalists.
Blessed to have received an offer from the University of Tennessee! #rockytop pic.twitter.com/G4OKXmmn3Q
— Ryan Winkel (@_ryanwinkel_) January 19, 2018
Check out Winkel’s highlights here.
Jordan Miller, DT – Jacksonville, FL – 2018
To only be ranked as a two-star, Miller jumps out on film.
His combination of strength and explosiveness is not common at the high school level, and he could be a true steal as the 2018 recruiting season closes.
The Florida native continually shows an incredible ability to get up field and has a great burst off of the ball. Also, he has the ability to drive back interior linemen, and has proven to be disruptive in both the running and passing games.
Miller could truly be an under-the-radar guy that flashes at the college level.
https://twitter.com/MILLJ70/status/956205193548500992
Check out Miller’s highlights here.
Marquez Beason, ATH – Dallas, TX – 2019
As a top-100 player and a top-10 athlete in the 2019 class, Beason is a special talent.
He is considered an athlete because he plays both wide receiver and cornerback, but he is utilized more as an offensive playmaker. He is used as a quarterback in addition to receiver, and proves to be proficient at all levels.
With the ball in his hands, his acceleration is difficult to keep up with and he can easily make defenders miss. As a wideout, he is equally deadly as a checkdown, a midfield zone-killer, or someone who takes the top off of the defense.
He is solid at all parts of the game, and can be a true playmaker at the next level.
https://twitter.com/Ezmoneyquez/status/955529710964035584
Check out Beason’s highlights here.
Jackson Lowe, TE – Cartersville, GA – 2019
Lowe has the ideal body for a college tight end, and proves to be superior to his high school opponents.
At 6 feet 5 inches and 242 pounds, the 13th-ranked tight end dominates at each level of the game. His run-blocking ability is comparable to a solid offensive lineman and he shows his strength while putting opponents on their backs.
His size, explosiveness and quickness are rare and he put them on display while averaging 21.3 yards per catch. As a former teammate of Trevor Lawrence, he could have a connection to Clemson, but it is still a wide-open race.
https://twitter.com/jacksonlowee/status/956691744040644608
Check out Lowe’s highlights here
Jorell Baum, DE – Elizabeth City, NC – 2019.
The most impressive aspect of Baum’s game comes from his monstrous 6-foot-5-inch frame, although he is slim at 220 pounds.
However, with his length and proficient block-shedding ability, he could be a great pass rusher. On film, he consistently displaces his strength and finds holes to stop running backs in their tracks.
His pass rush is relentless and his play recognition helps him to sniff out plays and save a couple yards. He currently has no rating on any major recruiting databases, but that will definitely change once football season starts back up.
Blessed to receive my first offer from the University of Tennessee 💪🏾🏈@NiedermeyerB @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/FiG6mCfqxu
— Jorell Baum (@jorellbaum16) January 25, 2018
Check out Baum’s highlights here.
Patrick Lucas, DT – Prattville, AL – 2019
Although he is listed as a defensive tackle, he appears to be a better fit at defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.
At 255 pounds, he is a bit slim to be playing tackle in the SEC, but his power says otherwise. He appears to be a pass-rush specialist as well, where he mostly utilizes bull rush moves and hand placement to push offensive tackles into the pocket.
He is a thorn in the side of rushing attacks as well because of his ability to get to the edge. He holds offers from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi State.
Blessed to receive an offer from Tennessee 🍊 pic.twitter.com/jgIoK0lcuO
— PJ🉑 (@I_am_Legend50) January 23, 2018
Check out Lucas’s highlights here.
Jacolbe Cowan, DE – Charlotte, NC – 2020
Cowan is a special talent and is bound to have every coaching staff in the country drooling over his combination of raw power and speed.
He has an ideal build for a defensive lineman at 6 feet 5 inches and 250 pounds and it’s phenomenal to have such a build as a sophomore.
He possesses the option to speed around a tackle or push him into the quarterback’s lap on any given play. Having quick and powerful hands, he is unstoppable against nearly any offensive lineman and makes finishing plays look easy.
He is currently ranked as the No. 2 defensive end and No. 7 overall player in the 2020 class.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee!!! #RockyTop #GBO 🍊🍊 pic.twitter.com/E1wpWUnZ50
— J C 1️⃣2️⃣ (@JacolbeCowan12) January 26, 2018
Check out Cowan’s highlights here.
