ORLANDO, Fla. - For Tennessee to have a real shot at any high school all-star is a credit to two coaching staffs.
First, the Phillip Fulmer crew got UT off to a great start with several top prospects.
Second, the Lane Kiffin bunch has kept the Vols in the collective consciousness despite less than a month on the job and a staff only halfway complete.
Still, overcoming a 5-7 season, no bowl publicity and an uncertain future presents an incredible challenge to landing the nation's elite prospects.
Just how many high school all-stars UT lands remains to be seen, but here are the participants in the Under Armour All-American Game here Sunday whom the Vols have a shot at landing:
n Corey Adams - The Vols are trying to get in on this 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. Adams is considering Southern California, Arizona State, Nebraska and Ohio State.
n Marlon Brown - This 6-5, 205-pound receiver from Harding Academy ranks at the very top of UT's recruiting list. Brown also is considering Florida, Georgia, LSU and Ohio State and has offered no hints as to where he might be headed.
n Montrell Conner - UT isn't the only school hoping that this 6-2, 210-pound tailback from Ouachita High School in Monroe, La., de-commits from Mississippi State.
Florida, Oregon, Oklahoma and Alabama also are in pursuit.
n Jarvis Giles - Should the Vols give up on this highly publicized 6-1, 185-pound tailback from Gaither High School in Tampa? He says yes. Others say no.
Giles committed to South Carolina this month after committing to UT last summer then de-committing following Fulmer's departure. UT may have a shot but it's probably pretty long.
n Alshon Jeffrey - This 6-3, 215-pound receiver from Calhoun County High in Saint Matthews, S.C., has agreed to take official visits to UT and South Carolina despite committing to Southern California in June.
Clemson, North Carolina and Kentucky also are in the mix.
n Jelani Jenkins - One of the very elite linebacker prospects in the nation, UT has some work to do to land this 6-1, 210-pounder from Good Counsel High in Wheaton, Md. Along with UT, there's a host of schools in line, including Florida, Penn State, Notre Dame and Southern Cal.
n Antwan Lowery - This 6-4, 335-pound defensive tackle from Christopher Columbus High in Miami has a visit schedule to Florida State in January, making many wonder just how committed he is to Rutgers. Florida, Clemson, Oklahoma and Miami also are in the mix.
n Sam Montgomery - Having played only one season of football, this 6-4, 220-pound defensive end from Greenwood (S.C.) High has college coaches intrigued about his potential. South Carolina, North Carolina, Clemson, LSU and Georgia are in the mix.
n Darren Myles, Jr. - This 6-1, 175-pound safety from Carver High in Atlanta should be plenty impressed by fellow Georgian Eric Berry's success at UT. Myles also is considering LSU, Florida, Georgia Tech, Purdue and Alabama.
n Quinton Washington - This 6-3, 315-pound defensive tackle from Timberland High in St. Stephen, S.C., is considering several schools, including Clemson, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, South Carolina and N.C. State.
UT will have to overcome the loss of Washington's chief recruiter, former assistant coach Dan Brooks.
n Peter White - This 6-5, 340-pound prototypical offensive guard from St. John's College High in Washington, D.C., is thought to be down to Maryland, Miami and UT.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 127
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Get 'em, Kiffin.
southernson writes:
This is just a set up so The morning Hooker can shoot Coach Kiffin down. Hooker still kissing Fulmer buttocks. And is a closet Florida fan...
VOLorado writes:
so... no QB is definite?
volwalk writes:
not a bad article hook....but i would say this is about half the list of recruits that kiff has his eye on...one big one that you missed is carroll.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Due to the lack of quality reporting in the Dead Period, this grandiose article quickly written for us to nibble on is absolutely worthless. When I got to Jarvis Giles, I promptly decided that it wasn't enough for me to keep reading. I then decided to move on. I just can't stomach another re-hash of a kid who decided to choose to go a losing program in the SEC who is supposed to be of some great quality that the VOLS missed. But have fun with this article. Caio..
volwalk writes:
I got a feeling that kiff and papa kiff will pull out a top ten class this year....book it! how many days before the orange and white game??
blitzshoot writes:
SOme guy named Carroll around? Wonder how many of these Coach Kiff will get. Some good lineman out there. I'm starting to give up on a qb this year though.
tripper writes:
Carroll is not on the roster for the UA game.
CT_VOL writes:
Hooker's last few articles have been nothing more than rehashing the recruiting information everyone already knows. We know Brown is the #1 recruit in the state!
Dave, can you please write something original with insight? Or is this asking too much of you?
Frank
Kiffin_fan writes:
One of Hook's better articles... Coach O and other offensive coaches will make this class better. And even beyond this class we should really look at next year as being the real class of Kiff... One month, do we really expect all that in one month... even less for the assistants... lets get real and think about it ... If we lose em all are we really losing or gaining?? think about it ...
Kiffin_fan writes:
and to finish... what the hell are you saying ???
hotrodvol writes:
It would be nice to get any one of the players, or as many as we can get. Bring on coach O, the Kiffins need all the help recruiting they can get.
cainclifton23 writes:
We really need Brown and Jeffreys..
Kiffin_fan writes:
The fulmerites want it to happen this year.. why I don't know, give him time and Kiff will make us better... Why would he want Fulmer's recruits to start with ?? I know that is all he has so his first year should be charged to Fulmer Not Kiff...
Txvol57 writes:
ummmm....get with the program Hook, Volquest just reported that Patrick Patterson is set to visit UT and has recently shown great interest because of Lane Kiffin. Also what about that beast of a tight end that is interested..Orson Charles. I could do your job Hooker, get off fulmers balls!
Kiffin_fan writes:
He already has better commits than the old staff did ... Gordon especially
tripper writes:
ONCE AGAIN, Patrick Patterson and Orson Charles ARE NOT on the Under Armour All American Game roster. Ya'll are making Hook look like a genius which pretty hard to do.
ctownvol writes:
Anybody hear any word on the kid from Rutgers? Tom Savage. I think he is in the US Army game, but I really think we could end up with him. Or have I been drinking too much Crown again?
Txvol57 writes:
Didn't read the whole title douche! Calm down, Hooker made no reference to that particular game except in the sub-title...my bad
Txvol57 writes:
Nevermind...yes he did, I retract my douche comment and put that on me. My bad Tripper
newtonrail writes:
Why do you say that Marco?
orangevolz writes:
This is the dead period, so there is not much to report on. However, I appreciate any tidbits of information. Far too many of you just like to complain about everything written by the KNS. Relax and enjoy it, or don't read it and waste our time by criticizing everything you read.
newtonrail writes:
What is a fulmerite? A newly discovered meteor?
newtonrail writes:
Not a Fulmer fan, but some on staff did some good recruiting. Moses who went South was in Top Ten. Kiffin lost that one. What was wrong with him??
gnm53108 writes:
If you can still ask that question then you haven't had enough Crown.
JohnnyVol writes:
This is a pretty long post for someone who did not even read the article.
tripper writes:
No worries 57, too much gin and juice to care. Patrick Patterson, Orson Charles, Randall Carroll, Morgan Moses**, Tom Savage, Je'Ron Stokes, Dre' Kirkpatrtrick, Rueben Randle, Ronnie Wingo, Jr., etc... will be in the US All-American Bowl on the 3rd at 1pm. That's where we could see some action, hopefully. No word on Savage.
Slystone writes:
As for Marlon Brown: He's leaning towards Ohio State. Why? Because they have a QB that can deliver the pill to him. Kiffin knows this would be a major recruit to sign.
gnm53108 writes:
It's a orange glowing orr that caused weakness and fear in crimson wearing mullet boys everywhere.
Then came lex saban and he found a way to temporarily negate the effects.
Hopefully now we have some even more potent Kiffinite.
JohnnyVol writes:
Hey Sly...where is this source from? Everything I had heard or read to this point had Brown dead even on several schools and no plans to reveal his choice at all until later.
tripper writes:
Latrell Scott left and he's probably heading to Bama. However, word is he will not qualify, so will have a 2nd chance at him in a couple of years.
JohnnyVol writes:
Hey Sly...what is the source for this? Everything I had heard up to this point had Brown dead even on several schools. According to Rivals, he had not planned to reveal his leaning at all until time. This would be a real bummer if it comes to fruition.
BSweet writes:
Kiffin didn't lose him. Moses was ready to commit to a coach, not UT. The loss stings, but I'd rather that than to continue struggling under Fulmer. Fulmer's "success" with the last several recruiting classes has shown it doesn't matter the talent you sign if you can't figure out how to use it. Hopefully CLK will know how to use the talent he signs. We shall see.
jsm67vol writes:
Agree with you here gatorzz. But if the Kiffins can pull together a strong class in just a few short weeks it gives us only more hope as to what he can do in the future.
Slystone writes:
I have a source in the Bluff City that is close to the situation, however the decision can still fall to the Vols. But when you look at the position he plays he is going to want to play for a team with a solid QB that can deliver the ball to a receiver and UT just doesn't have it and Kiffin knows this, but there is no one available at this late stage to recruit. That's why Kiffin is looking toward the next class of QB's. Still the Vols need Brown worst than anything.
utchris writes:
Negative. That rumor got started by some Ohio St. people. If you talk to anyone that knows him, they will tell you that he honestly does not know where he is headed. Those people also think that OSU is a long shot bc he likes the SEC and the warmer climates found in the south.
Likelihood that it will come down to UT and UGA.
utchris writes:
And no offense, but I can just honestly say that no matter what source you have, I would bet my years salary that I have about as close a source to this as you can get without hearing from the horses mouth. Cant explain much beyond that.
TDTN writes:
I have heard from a friend at Hillsboro High School that our top recruit (Gordon?) scored a 15 on his ACT and can barely pass classes there. I was told he would end up a prep school.
Louisvol8859 writes:
Gordon didn't take his ACT till the day of the TN All-Star game it takes about 4-6weeks to get results so how would the results be released yet. I have also heard he has trouble passing classes. TD you are probably right about prep school. As far as Moses goes he is way over playing weight. He even admits this. He is between 340 and 360 depending on the site you check. he said his ideal weight as told by coaches at schools pursuing him is 320. Plus his academics appear to be in worse shape than Gordon's. One last knock on him for our offense is that he struggles with pass blocking. This is from his mouth in an article today on Rivals. The offense we run which is similar to USC's relies on athletic linemen. USC has two lineman over 300 on their roster.
Louisvol8859 writes:
Newton,
ButchIsBack=Fulmerite.
jturne44 writes:
Yes I'm afraid so. I'm a huge Kiffin fan and believe whole-heartedly in his recruiting prowess, plus I can't wait for this year, but my buddy and I, mark my words think that crompton or stephens will be back on the field for us...which kinda sucks but maybe they have something hidden who knows...
honestly stephens has an arm and can read coverage better than crompton so I think it will be stephens...
Louisvol8859 writes:
there is also alot of noise about Coleman being kiffin's choice based on video and potential. He also seems to be the most stable and intelligent.
JBruce writes:
Gordon took his ACT the same day that my youngest brother took his. His results were posted about 4-5 days ago.
Louisvol8859 writes:
Then the time has really sped up for results since I took my ACT in 1999, but that is progress.
JBruce writes:
Yeah, they just go to the ACT website and log in.
I remember having to wait for that dreaded letter.
Louisvol8859 writes:
Well now that I feel old at 27 since he got his results so fast is there time for Gordon to retake or are all the oppurtunites past for seniors.
JBruce writes:
According to the ACT site, there is another test date on February 7th. So he can still retake.
Realistically, I don't see him pulling his score high enough to get in. He really isn't even close.
Failing classes + 15 ACT score = Community College
blitzshoot writes:
Agree. Shame though. Tough way to start a day.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dang, Biltzhoot, can't sleep, huh?
Its only 3:17 AM here and I'm about to win a battle with Pizza Hut's pepperoni.
I have to trust Kiffin on the QB situation. Believe Stephens has great upside.
gnm53108 writes:
Hope yaw are right about Kiffin and our qb situation.
Good luck on that battle.I've always had better luck if you can enlist the help of a cold beer to out flank em.
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