Rae Sykes has completed the journey back to Knoxville.
“I signed with Tennessee,” said a relieved Sykes following a press conference at his home in Alcoa on Wednesday.
It's not the first time the 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive lineman signed a UT letter of intent. The former Alcoa High School star first signed with the Vols in 2007 following a highly contested recruiting battle with Florida State.
Shortly thereafter, academics stood in the way and Sykes was force to attend Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
“I’m very anxious to get back here,” said Sykes, who will enroll at UT in January.
Sykes has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He never played at Coffeyville because of what he said has been deemed a “minor” knee injury.
Sykes said his time in Kansas taught him something. The lesson was more about life than football.
“It made me realize what I had to do,” Sykes said. “It made me a lot hungrier and it disciplined me to.”
Sykes said he never really considered going elsewhere, even as Kentucky, Oklahoma State and South Carolina came calling.
The Wildcats made the strongest dent in his determination to play at UT. Hammering home the message was former Alcoa teammate Randall Cobb, who plays quarterback and receiver for Kentucky last season as a freshman.
“He was on me but he didn’t pressure me or anything,” Sykes said. “He told me it was a great place to be and I should go up there and look at it and give them a chance.”
Sykes considered a Lexington visit but never took it. After all, there’s a similar Tornado tie at UT.
Former Alcoa star Brandon Warren will be a junior tight end at UT in 2009.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with Brandon,” Sykes said. “We motivate each other on both sides of the ball.”
The two were often compared. Sykes cited Warren as a motivating factor for his play throughout high school.
Sykes would even like to play alongside Warren on UT’s defensive line – just for ole’ times sake.
“Actually, Id like to see him playing on the same side of the ball with me,” Sykes joked.
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Comments » 74
HtownVol writes:
BEAST Tear It Up RAE!!
Red_October writes:
Now that's what I'm talking about!!!
KENVOL writes:
Glad to have you back. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS!!!!!
RockyTop writes:
Welcome back!!!
blitzshoot writes:
Can anyone tell me how good this kid is? Don't know a lot about him.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I assume he's a TE, DE or big LB.
What was he in HS?
Welcome aboard, young man.
southerntnvol writes:
I am glad to see this kid in orange. And yes I hope we find Brandon Warren this season too. Way to good to be missing like he was.
SemperVol writes:
I don't think he'll amount to much... SYKE!!!
Welcome aboard, dude!! Glad you'll don the orange you've always dreamed of. Make everyone proud!! Go Vols!!!
We should have some terror to unlease at the Ends position!! Now we just need to fill the gap we'll have in the middle or he won't be able to produce.
southerntnvol writes:
Has Hollis signed today?
jobrando#216494 writes:
I just hope he hits the books and keeps out of trouble.
GreenbackMike writes:
Rae was a dominating force on the Alcoa teams to start this run of 5 Consecutive Championships. He was being mentioned in the same breaths as a john henderson in high school. The Kid is a BEAST and cld anchor the D line from the end in Javon Kearse fashion!
Maverick1921 writes:
If I remember correct, I believe he played TE some on offense... But the man was a beast on the defensive line, mainly at DE.
blitzshoot writes:
Thanks. Sounds good. Hopefully the academics stay in line and he can make a name for himself.
SemperVol writes:
He's engaged and has a child... that should calm him down and make him focused on the academics and developing his talent on the gridiron.
Stay focused, Rae!!!
OrangeAndWhite4Life writes:
Great news and glad to have Sykes in the Orange and White.
Did anyone else find it amusing that the advertisement in the top left corner is for "The Mouse's Ear" Gentleman's club ??
Keep Sykes outta there and in the library to keep his grades up. Will be needing him to chase down some 'Dawgs, Gators, and Tide QB's in 2009.
GO Vols !!
blitzshoot writes:
Scouts UT commitments:
http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am...
blitzshoot writes:
Would like to see some 6'4"/6'5" WRs.
newtonrail writes:
Why does he only have 3 years to play, if he didn't play at Coffeyville?
DingoVol writes:
The clock starts ticking the first day you attend a college class. You have 5 years to play 4.
Vawlfanpreandpost writes:
How is his knee? It said he missed the whole year at Coffeville. What does that mean? Is he going to need surgery or what? You usually don't miss an entire season due to a minor knee injury. I hope he is healthy but this knee thing is a little bit concerning. Maybe he was Coffeville for strictly academics?
G8er_H8er writes:
"I heard Kiffin is working through some video and preliminary evaluations and is wondering why the likes of Warren, Williams, Page, Vinson etc weren't playing last year while questioning some other of the personnel decisions that had been made as well." Per Tony B
Rae will be a good player for us. Looking forward to the best players playing this year on the hill.
Maverick1921 writes:
Scout is showing several wide receivers have visits to UT planned in January and February that haven't been listed until here recently. Alshon Jeffrey was one of them that has a visit scheduled. This may be old news, but I wanted to post it in case any of you haven't seen it.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Sykes was a DE at Alcoa. He was a 4* coming out of HS and the only reason he is a 3* now on Rivals is because he never played in CC.
hatethevols writes:
I don't care what anyone says Brandon Warren should have stayed out Florida State. He could be looking at his senior year and a better chance of going Pro than coming back to Tennessee. Leave a Florida State as an All-American TE to be the 3rd string TE at Tennessee. What the ....?
jobrando#216494 writes:
ESPN recruiting site gives him real good reviews and from there description Pop's Kif is going to like him.
King53 writes:
okay, i believe this makes five players form the Knoxville area that will be seeing significant playing time next year. You have Sykes, Warren, Reveiz, Rogan, and Douglas. Can anyone else think of local guys receiving significant playing time?
jobrando#216494 writes:
Isn't one of his main reasons for coming back was to be close to family and not for football?
ncvol writes:
Glad to have another Tennessee native come to UT.
Go Vols!
givehim6 writes:
He came to UT to be nere him sick mother.
givehim6 writes:
Maybe Sykes will give Codd a slober knocker for trying to get him to go to UK.
jobrando#216494 writes:
I dont know what other's think but I would like to thank KNS for not producing anymore Coach Fulmer articles. It's getting to be a much more peaceful site pointing to the future. Heck, Maybe someday they might even get a scoop on something before we find out from one of the posters.
cgbtn writes:
DingoVol, Did he play last year?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Codd. LOL.
adamsck#591720 writes:
This kid sounds like a keeper. For all the good we got out of Brandon Warren last year - through no fault of Brandon's - maybe we should follw this guy's suggestion and let Brandon play LB or DE. As fast as Brandon is he could do damage.
CoverOrange writes:
While you are correct, it doesn't explain why only 3 years of eligibility are left. 4 minus 0 equals 4.
Just guessing, maybe you can't redshirt in CC. Since he was "on" the team roster, it counted? maybe would have been better to go to Pellissippi or some place.
crappieking writes:
Any news on OB recruits?
jimr07 writes:
really positive comment.
CheckerboardPhilosopher writes:
NEW NEYLAND STADIUM RENOVATIONS PICS
http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
mattlock writes:
Ha ha. . .check it out
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/authors...
southernson writes:
Welcome , Way to go coach Kiffin. Keep up the good work.
Red_October writes:
Very nice stats. I especially like the 4.0 GPA. It lists his height as 6'2". I wonder if some think he might be little too short to play in the SEC? I don't know - just asking. You would think more schools would be looking at this kid.
orngbluded writes:
Welcome back Rae we needed help on the D-line.
SemperVol writes:
And the 33 on his ACT... very nice.
The kid has really good speed too... looks like he can move around the pocket.. great arm.
Maybe he's more interested in pursuing the academics... as said in the article on rivals.com. I agree with what Rich said about not attending football camps.
Somebody will have a jewell though... good link, RichRoll.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
givehim6, wasn't it a little early in the day to be on the juice? The kid's name is Cobb. And in your post just previous to this one, you said, "He came to Tennessee to be nere him mother."
No offense, just having a little fun.
GO VOLS!!!
Recruit 'em and coach 'em up!
JUGHEAD
TNfaninMS writes:
Anyone know who we are recruiting in the Lake Charles area?
The only on I could find was:
http://tennessee.rivals.com/viewprosp...
utnut#215669 writes:
you read kns for free. then read posts for free. then post for free. if your not happy then sponge somewhere else.
cgbtn writes:
TurboFan, We're going to figure this out. The above article says he signed in 2007. Scout says he was in the high scool class of 2007 and is in the junior college class of 2009. The only thing I can deduce is that he played JUCO ball in 2007, but did not play in 2008, because of the injury.
Volunatic writes:
Glad to have you here at UT, Rae Sykes! It sounds like you have a great attitude, and will approach the game with the intensity we need.
Hopson2008 writes:
I believe he has been at Coffeyville for two years. Not 100% sure though.
Down_The_Field writes:
Welcome aboard.....Volunteer....have we got a defensive coach for you!
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