Nyshier Oliver, who committed to Tennessee in June, has re-opened his recruitment and plans to visit other schools this fall.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J., informed UT’s coaches last weekend, according to Oliver’s father, Theodore Oliver.
Oliver said his son still favors UT but wants to make sure it’s the right choice.
“It wasn’t a situation where he said he wasn’t going to Tennessee,” Theodore Oliver said Wednesday. “He still wants to participate and go to Tennessee. He wants to make sure it’s the right decision for him.”
Oliver said his son received little attention from other schools after he committed to the Vols.
That should change soon. Notre Dame already called to offer Nyshier Oliver a scholarship earlier this week.
Michigan, Boston College, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Purdue and Illinois were a few schools to offer before he committed to UT.
Ohio State and Georgia had also shown interest.
Oliver has taken trips to UT twice.
Virginia and Rutgers are the only other schools he has visited.
Oliver’s father said his son’s early commitment left him confused with the recruiting process, which can happen to any prospect.
“A lot of people fail to realize they’re only teenagers,” Theodore Oliver said. “Sometimes they’re very indecisive. Certain players just need time.”
Oliver said he doesn’t expect his son to take too much time to make a final decision.
Theodore Oliver said his son will likely take a visit before his first high school game on Sept. 12 and then decide which schools he wants to see during the season.
Oliver will be making sure he finds the right fit.
“Could you live in a place for four years?” Theodore Oliver said. “It’s no other thing but that.”
Oliver said his son has become the closest with UT’s coaching staff among the schools he was considering. He’s being recruited by defensive backs coach Larry Slade.
That’s why Oliver wanted to be the one to tell Slade he needed to visit other schools.
“Do I think in my heart of hearts that he’s going to go to Tennessee?” Theodore Oliver said. “That’s what I believe. He just wants to make sure it’s the right decision.”
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Comments » 58
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
ROTFLMAO!!!!!! HE MUST HAVE BEEN READING MY COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
No big deal...Just free's up space for others.
mdvol writes:
Opens a spot for a DT. Where does 5'11, 185 lbs really fit anyway? Short DB? Undersized RB?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
mdvol, that size is bigger than most of our safeties in recent years.
Volchaz writes:
Jerkin, he read all of your negative comments, and decided to go someplace else.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Perhaps there is a new car waiting for him in the parking lot of another school?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
gator4life, please tell me you really don't like moonpies? They are beyond terrible.
99gator writes:
he's a kid and entitled to change his mind. and yes, i say this about people who de-commit from florida.
the last thing you want is someone who would rather be somewhere else.
VOLS85 writes:
WHAT?! WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A DB?!
won't even create a blip on the radar screen...i agree with md, that will open it up for a DT
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
what DTs? ROTFLMGDAO!!!!!!!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
No biggie.
What's not to like about a moon-pie?
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Looks like when he committed to us, he stopped getting attention from other schools and didn't like the lack of attention. He needs to commit to us before we lose interest...............His dad might want to have a chat with him........
hallsguy writes:
Gator for life;I like your columnist and I like Paul Finebaum at Bama.John Adams is good too,he jes tells it likes it is.Some Vols jes cain't handle that cajun.Geoff Calkins in Memphis is another.
huntined#565710 writes:
He said he was confident in his decision when he committed..N.D. must have come on strong to him..
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
Sounds like this young man just decided his word was not worth that much. These kids should not be so fast to jump. If he now comes to UT we will be waiting for the other shoe to drop.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Adios
Go4Two writes:
ESPN college football live is reporting that Cromptons ankle is day to day. Anyone heard this news
thesavageorange writes:
hcjournals , correct assesment.If he thinks the staff is holding a place for him he's dead wrong.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Crompton didn't practice yesterday...UH OH!!!!
volboy81#211803 writes:
Bless his heart, hes not getting any more attention...Poor baby.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
the last time we played UCLA we had a QB go down and we had this really good, young QB setting on the bench that just went out and became 1 of the best QB's ever
volunteer_cowboy writes:
i can hear the crowd now at Neyland "BJ" "BJ" "BJ"
smokey90 writes:
Read the story gator4life posted at 4:28. That was very stupid of bama's assistant.
mjohnsonvols writes:
Funny workin only comments on negative things and not one post from him on the Warren situation.
Keep being negative my man. That is what people love about workin see what kind of stupid comment will come from him next.
And by the Crompton did not Practice but I bet he plays and plays well against UCLA.
RTB writes:
I grew up near there. St. Peters is a good small private prep school in urban New Jersey, near Newark. But the best college football teams in that area are more similat to the teams that Carson-Newman beats up on. He would have no way to relate to the scope of UT Football and what UT would mean to him.
Who can blame a young fellow for being honest with UT and thoughtful about his own future. Perhaps he can get back to Knoxville and see a game or two, meet some students and teachers, and he will find out that UT is a good academic choice as well.
BSweet writes:
Savage- How's it going? I was wondering if you know anything about Arthur Jeffrey, a DT out of FL? I was checking out scout several days ago and noticed him as being interested in us. I hadn't really heard of him before that. Also, I read D. Winston set an announce date for Sept. 5th. What do you think our chances are of getting him? Any new scuttlebutt on the recruiting trail? Any commitment predictions? As always, thanks for any insight. Take care, man.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
mjohnsonvols still sweatin' me. LOL!!!!!!!
warren15#208295 writes:
He is a kid, his Dad made some valid and responsible comments and you all blast him? Nice...
bloodrunsorange writes:
The offer just might not be there if he decides he made a bad mistake. The recruiting pond is full of other athletes that we would like to bring into the family. I really don’t want the kind of me, myself, and I‘s that a lot of 5 stars bring to the table. We’ve had our share and Georgia, Alabama, Florida, etc… are experiencing their behavior and class just like we did. 3 and 4 star athletics that have class and that really want to be here will get us where we need to be. OF COURSE, WE’LL ALWAYS WELCOME ALL THE BERRY TYPE ATHLETES THAT WANT TO BE HERE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE 5 STARS.
golfballs03 writes:
If you can live in New Jersey you can live anywhere. Anyway, he ought to do the right thing and stay with us. It should show him that we are able to recognize talent and had a better appreciation of his skills than any of the other schools. Plus, he can come here and start!
chad_t31 writes:
Sounds like a few ppl in here need to focus on their games before the ut game. As for the kid re-thinking his decision...brilliant. It's not like it's signing day of 2009.
thesavageorange writes:
BSweet ,Jeffrey has been hard to handle at several camps.He has had a little academic trouble so he hasn't received as much attention as others.The teams keeping an eye on him are S Florida,UF,FSU,Miami and UT.He is very athletic.We'll have to wait to see his visit plans 1st.He is interested.
I don't think we get Winston.I really think he ends up at Ole Miss.He had planned to visit us before he chose ,but that trip has been cancelled as far as I know.
Other than that there's not much going on.I think it will be pretty quiet over the next couple of weeks.For now I will stick w/ my Askew prediction as being the next one.
chad_t31 writes:
That has to go thru a pretty good ol. :-)
gohawks1 writes:
Fair enough - back off, take another look, and make sure you're making the best decision. Just remember, Notre Dame went 3-9 last year.
rootin4volz writes:
Three words...NO...Three LETTERS: E-G-O. Kid likes hearing his phone ring.
ncvol17 writes:
When it comes to 17/18 yr old commitments I always remember 1 word : Cadillac Williams
No commitment is worth anything until they sign on the bootom line..
BigVolinCarolina writes:
NC Vol is correct, and I've said the same thing before. "Commitments" mean nothing until they actually sign.
Too many folks get caught up in "commitments" and get their pants in a wad when a recruit backs off. Signing Day is what counts. After they sign, then we have to see if they can live up to their recruiting hype.
Would love to see us get a DT instead of a 5-11 player.
iowavol writes:
Hey, where are the friggin idiots posting "1st, First, oh darn, yours showed up before mine, I guess you posted before me I'm not first, must be 2nd, no somebody else is second, oh my, oh my...".
budd#207344 writes:
This is the problem with "early" commitments and recruiting. It makes these kids think they are some sort of hot sh** when 90% are nowhere near as good as they are told they are. The NCAA should just ban any recruiting contact before a kid is a senior then make it four months and be done with it.Move signing day to March or April if there is a need for six months. There is also something a little weird with grown men worrying where a 17 yr old wants to go to school.
GreenDevilVol writes:
Free Mcbrim,We need a pillar of true insanity !!
cleVOLand writes:
Go where your heart leads you, son. The volunteer faithful wishes you the best- despite what you may have read above!
gnm53108 writes:
If orange is in your blood,come on down.
If not?Good luck with whatever Loser you choose to get a degree from.Just remember..get that degree.
CT_VOL writes:
Last!
TNfaninMS writes:
nope last ah ha
utchris writes:
This very well could be nothing more than, I really want to use all my official visits to go see some cool games this year.
cjraney writes:
budd-
I think the opposite-have one signing period before players' senior year and another afterward. Some kids want to get it out of the way and focus on HS accomplishments. It would also eliminate the babysitting process by recruiters.
Then the late signing period would accommodate players wanting to use all their official visits and those who play their way to an offer during their senior season.
gnm53108 writes:
Why have signing periods?When they want to commit,just have em sign on the dotted line.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
There is an old saying Vol-in-Carolina, an oral promise isn't worth the paper its written on.
vtvol#210290 writes:
The whole recruting process is ridiculous. The fans of every team hold their collective breath for six months while hoping that the fickle leanings of Bobby Fivestar stay with his original commitment. Meanwhile, the sirens' song of expense free trips to be entertained at various college campuses while being able to witness high-profile games in person lure young lads astray. Everybody wants his "fifteen minutes of fame" and kids like Nyshier Oliver are no different. He, like many other rising high school seniors, craves the attention these trips and coaches' contacts afford them. High school football players, especially the stars, are conditioned by their immediate environment to expect pampering and favors that the average person would never know about. Some kids feel this royal treatment is almost preordained by divine right because of their God given talent to out-run, out-throw, and out-hustle the competition.
I agree with many SEC coaches who desire an earlier signing period to cut down on kids who are using recruiting trips as mini-vacations all the while secretly holding firm to earlier commitments. Nyshier Oliver's father said that his son "didn't say he was no longer interested in Tennessee" but that he just wanted to be afforded the opportunity to visit other campuses. It is almost like getting a date with the prom queen and then waiting to see if any of her friends are even HOTTER. The recruit just needs to realize that prom queen could attract someone even better as well.
GreerVol22 writes:
I blame Dad on this one. If parents make this many comments about "the right decision" or "the right fit" then suddenly its about them and not the athlete. He (Dad)knows UT is loaded at DB so playing the percentages, his retirement income goes up exponentially if his son attends a lesser loaded program...so lends the question....the "right decision" for who?
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