Most thought it was only a matter of time until Rod Wilks committed to Tennessee.
After all, the News Sentinel's second-best prospect in the state lives a short drive from Knoxville and his brother, Marsalous Johnson, is a starting cornerback at UT.
Wilks finally made it official, announcing he was committed to UT during a press conference at Smyrna High School Wednesday morning. The decision, however, wasn't as easy as most thought it would be.
"It was a battle between Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina," the 6-foot-1, 210-pound wide receiver said. "I was just going for whichever school recruited me the hardest - who really showed me they wanted me."
That certainly was the case for UT, which targeted Wilks as a high priority.
"It just wasn't one or two coaches," Wilks said when asked what UT assistant recruited him, "it was everyone."
In the end, UT's depth chart proved most important.
"Tennessee did a heckuva job," Wilks said. "So did Florida, but I just felt like Tennessee was a place I can go and have an opportunity to get on the field as a freshman."
Immediate playing time certainly seems more possible now than it did just a few weeks ago. The Vols signed a bevy of receivers in the 2007 class. Despite high expectations, their impact on the field has been minimal.
Wilks' commitment is a lone positive for UT amidst a whirlwind of negativity surrounding a 59-20 loss to Florida last Saturday. Wilks didn't travel to the game, but his father did.
"All champions lose," Wilks said. "Everyone is going to have a loss in their lives. Tennessee just lost. It's over with. You've got to move forward."
Now, Wilks can move forward - with his brother.
"He's a big factor," Wilks said "All my life, we've been together. Once you separate me from my brother, it's hard for us. I wanted to reunite with him."
The brotherly tie almost worked against UT. Wilks wasn't pleased with the media coverage of his brother's run-in with the law last year.
Johnson was charged with aggravated assault following an incident with a toy gun in Cookeville. Johnson was eventually found not guilty of all charges.
"It didn't turn me off," Wilks said of his interest in UT, "but I was disappointed in some of the ways they (the media) handled it."
Wilks said he'll only take one official visit this fall, to Knoxville.
"It's exciting," he said. "I wanted to go ahead and get it behind me so I could finish my high school career with enjoyment."
In four games this season, Wilks has 19 catches for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Wilks caught 60 passes for 945 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior in 2006.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 31
cookevol writes:
Finally some good news. If the new recievers can't
"catch" on then hopefully and ole TN boy can!
TNvolunteer writes:
Great!! This ole boy can really run!! Hopefully we can design a few plays out of the shotgun to get the ball in some of these speedsters hands and let the run...kinda the way Florida does!
tigervol9802 writes:
To bad his brother is already approaching double digit "I got burned" counts already this year after three games, much less the double digit number of tackles he's probably missed as well.
Or, I just hope he's better than his brother.
vol4jesus writes:
now that was encouraging wasn't it? If you find something in thar nice let me know otherwise I'll keep Columbo looking for it in thisn and some otherin.
TriCityVol writes:
I bet he becomes uncommitted after Fulmer is fired.
Ironcity writes:
I went to lunch and they had Florida against Vandy (Classic ESPN) from the Spurrier era. They must have thrown bombs down field 25% of the time. With our lines ability to block, our QB's inability to run and his strong accurate arm, I am not sure why we don't do that all the time. That would have put the pressure on Florida young DB's to cover the field. I would blame it on the pinky but we have not thrown downfield on a regular basis since Tee Martin was on the team.
leedsvol2007 writes:
When Florida was turning it loose they had Wuerffel, Doering, Hilliard, Anthony and Green to catch it.
Ainge cannot throw deep now and its obvious Crompton is still learning.
We need a good win this week to quiet things down and for Ainge to get healthier.
Hopefully we will see Ben Martin in action and he can give our defense the lift it needs by providing some pass rush.
Lets all thank Wilks for promising to come and wish him luck on having a great career.
vol4jesus writes:
ilove use the term fan lightly in tiggervol case. OOOps someone said fan is ok.I say just don't taint it with VOL in there if ya gonna be negative ya'll. We talkin' redneckish ya know.
GO VOLS!!!
vol4jesus writes:
In the past we were sphs____. Just like Notre Dame and others. We ain't thar now ya'll. The young man didn't get hung up on that like some of us have ya know? I will support the Vols this weekend with bride by side we will pull for BIG ORANGE!! A 'TRUE VOLFAN' will pull in the good,bad, and ugly! We have had two uglies this year and I ain't happy. I'm not pulling the rug out from under the young men. If they did give up sat at swamp..shame. They are young and resilient and will make immature mistakes. That is part of growing up. Ever had a bad day at work and dropped off to maybe 75% effort or worse? Well,well we all are human. I prefer encouragement over berating anyday. Which is easier to work with? Encouragement doe not mean I don't point out coverage/blocking issues. It is all how I go about it. GO VOL!!!
tigervol9802 writes:
Just telling it like I see it. Johnson has played horribly through three games.
I've probably taken up for him more during his fiasco last year more than most, I know I have taken up for Fulmer since 05 more than most, and have stood by the program. Yes, I will be there Saturday and will still be there come Vandy whether we are 8-2 or 1-9 going in.
But, I'm tired of pretending everything is hunky-dory when it obviously isn't. I'm trying to be as positive as can be, but when there is an elephant in the room, it's kind of hard to ignore. I'm sitting staring at a 1-2 team with an atrocious defense and a secondary whose best player is a true freshman.
Sorry, I've sat and tried to put a positive spin on it, but there really isn't much you can say besides there is room for improvement.
tigervol9802 writes:
Here we go! Positive spin!!!
I hope that the folks in charge at UT take the necessar ycourse of action as so that Rod Wilks and all of the other men in this recruting class can maximize their potential and be coached and dveloped into excellent football players?
VolSwaff writes:
stop blaming things on other fans. your like the kid that took names in class.
MajorVol writes:
Our performance Saturday has been analyzed by every Tom Dick and Harry known to man. Fact is, the Vols are just not very good right now. Could be worse, we could be Notre Dame fans. Let's move on, get better, beat Georgia, SC and BAMA. That cold Budweiser will taste so much better.
d2l writes:
I have no doubt that Rod will stay committed. His mom and brother have too much influence over the situation, and I think he really wants to be with his brother. I have watched almost every single game this kid has played in high school. He is a man among boys in arguably the toughest region in 5a football. He specializes in getting a lot of YAC and is very strong. He has all the potential to become Meachem-like if he continues to develop.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
I just wish everybody would stop using terms like "True Vol Fan" or "Fair Weather Fans". These are made up words.
A fan is a fan.
TNvolunteer writes:
I am glad Wilks decided to com here...He has a great frame 6'1, 210...I would play him at Free Safety...Let him roam the field and lay hits on people, but before that I'd give him a shot at WR...With his size, I wouldnt be suprised to see Foolmore try and move him to LB, but we did get a great committment in Wilks!
DadwasaVol writes:
This is a good sign.
vol4jesus writes:
jdcvols if the shoe fits wear it my mom would say. In an earlier post I said we were told your line of a fan is a fan...a good fan or a bad fan though. I say if you find time and energy to only rag on the team/coaches and have no room for anything of constructive substance you are not a"True Fan" of the VOLS! Yes your wanting more respectable play and effort as a former player is commendable as should be expected. I tire of continual non-stop Tsunami's of negative bilge over and over. I don't say your arguements are baseless because they are accurate. A little balance,like in life, makes the points easier to digest/read/accept/etc. 'TRUE VOL FANS' support the team in the good, bad, and the ugly. Sad to say we are in ugly for the moment. See ya at the game Saturday!! GO VOLS!!!
1bigutfan writes:
Happy to see we are still getting commits considering the way the season is going. I hope Phil can get it together like in 95. I loved beating Ohio state in the citrus bowl that year. That win really helped in recruiting for many years.
UTFAN1993 writes:
Change of pace....Did U know.................
That a National Championship can be won by beating the teams on your schedule that posted a 87-80 win-lost
record, with 6 of the teams having won less than 5 games each?
TNvolunteer writes:
I just hope he can get on the field some where...We need a deep ball threat.
ncvol17 writes:
I sure hope he comes but since the Chris Simms/Cadillac Williams commit till the last minute incidents... ya never know what an 18 yr old kid will do...
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
Good for the Vol program. I've felt like the last couple of years the best talent in the state was going somewhat ignored by the UT staff and I'm happy to see they've done a better job the last 2 years of getting the guys for the most part to come to UT. I look forward to seeing Brandon Warren in Orange and big Aaron Douglas and Preston Bailey on their way. Maybe these guys will actually appreciate what the Power T means instead of these guys from California that don't understand the Big Orange Tradition.
FLAVOLS writes:
Welcome to Big Orange Country Young Man!!!!
Ironcity writes:
I like it Evolution. Sounds like defensive end by his senior year. We don't need receivers to stretch the field we need to actually throw a ball more then 15 yards down the field. 2 years ago everyone here agreed that Lucus Taylor could stretch the field, now all of sudden he can't. The reality is our QB with the bad pinky can't throw an accurate pass beyond 20 yards. He can't throw on the run. The fact is we are not even trying to stretch the field.
vol4jesus writes:
Evilution you are right on! I look forward to seeing ewe on the sidelines(your obvious rightful position) next year since your credentials are immpeccable(sp) as a coaching guru! Why have you not come forward earlier? Your 100% accurate knowledge is what we have been waiting for! YAWN......I'm sorry I zipped whwn I should have zapped and went on a pseudo comical post. Back to reality. Glad Wilks has committed and hope he sticks with it. GO VOLS!!
ActiveDutyVol writes:
vols4jesus, you sure picked the right name on here....I've honestly never seen anyone more "holier-than-thou" than yourself. I read these blogs but never comment, but I can't stand it anymore... for someone who claims to be a "man of christ" you are, far and away, the most judgemental "fan" to grace this board. Give it a rest, friend, and try to do a better job of emulating your savior... your judgemental, sarcastic, egotistical, remarks on here make me want to vomit. Why do you have such a hard time accepting that not everyone agrees with your position? Is it so hard to understand that some of us are tired of being a middle-of-the-road SEC team, with more underutilized talent than potentially anyone in the country? Open your mind to the fact that just because some of us want to see new leadership doesn't mean we aren't loyal to the university and don't love the Vols. Your comments wouldn't be so annoying if you didn't come on here with that pompous, hypocrtical, name....
Face it, if this team was a business...we'd be bankrupt by now with the way it has been mismanaged over the past 5+ years. I could just as easily make the argument that fans such as yourself who aren't demanding better for this University have more loyalty to the personnel hired to coach the team than they do to the insitution itself. Maybe you're the one who's not a true fan????
I'm sure you'll have some smarmy, cutesy comment for me, but honestly does anyone want to hear it???? It's highly doubtful.
Basketball_Jones writes:
I am curious...does a "true Vol fan" not have the right to critisize this football program? To me the "True Vol Fans" are calling for Fulmer's hea cause they want a better program and a better team. The rest of them are juts "yes men" and are enjoying cover ups and sweeping the dirt under the rug, must be like working for the President.
I am suprised this kid is coming here. After seeing how this new group of receivers have yet to been coached well enough to get on the field, but maybe he knows PF and Company will be gone next year and he will get a real receivers coach not a chest bumper
Colliervol writes:
Good comment ActiveDuty. I lose him when he starts talking about Redcoats. Some of you new guys don't remember our old friend "Busybody" but the old posters do. Voljesus is approaching his revered status.
DadwasaVol writes:
If recruits are reading any of these posts they certainly are getting an accurate negative picture of the Tennessee Volunteer fan base. Remember 2005 when Jason Allen, from his hospital bed, said stop blaming the coaches. You want our players to lose even more faith in the coaches, and quit on Fulmer, right now in the middle of the season? Some of you want it to get even uglier. I am not sure if any of you are qualified enough to know what it takes to be in the top ten. Stop the run? Easier said than done. Prevent the big plays? Run as fast as Harvin and Jackson? Not that easy. It's hard to coach speed. And now, change most of the coaches in the middle of the season? I'm supporting my team and waiting until end of season before passing judgment.
silentfan writes:
My sentiments exactly, DadwasaVol. Personally, I'd like to see Fulmer finish this season grandly and go on to retire with dignity on his terms. I doubt he wants to coach too many more years, anyway.
BTW, I suspect it's a lot easier to incorporate young players when your upperclassmen are playing like leaders. Fumbles, dropped passes, weak effort? Sure, the coaches have to take some of the blame; but eventually the older players have to start doing what they've been taught to do, and I don't see that happening just yet.
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