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Defensive end Savage has UT even with Auburn

By Josh Ward (Contact)
Originally published 05:00 p.m., January 21, 2008
Updated 05:00 p.m., January 21, 2008

Jomarcus Savage knows Tennessee needs him.

That point was made immensely clear when the defensive end from J.O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, Ala., took an official visit to UT this past weekend.

Savage’s position is a high priority for the Vols’ 2008 signing class. Robert Ayers and Wes Brown are the only players returning next season with significant experience at defensive end.

Savage said UT’s coaches told him he could help immediately.

“The defensive end spot is so thin … and their rotation is not even like it usually is,” Savage said. “They were not trying to feed me any crap but just trying to tell me how much impact I could be if I come in humble and work hard.”

Freshman defensive end Ben Martin, who served as Savage’s host, echoed his coaches’ statement about immediate playing time. Martin, Savage said, could use the help.

“He’s going to be dog tired,” Savage said.

Martin, fellow freshman Chris Walker and sophomore Andre Mathis are the only other players who have seen time at defensive end.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Savage said he’s favoring UT and Auburn while still considering South Carolina.

He plans to take an official visit to South Carolina this weekend. He visited Auburn on Jan. 11.

Savage said UT has grown on him during the recruiting process, which has helped the Vols pull even with Auburn.

Savage said he got a better feel for the UT fan base while attending the basketball Vols’ 74-69 win over Ohio State at Thompson Boling Arena on Saturday.

“It was so loud in that gym,” Savage said, “and I was like, ‘This is basketball.’ I got chills in that game. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is a pretty nice atmosphere.’

“Everyone in Tennessee bleeds orange. I can definitely tell you that.”

Savage said he had originally planned to make his choice on National Signing Day on Feb. 6, but he now hopes to make his decision next week after he visits South Carolina.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       44 Comments

Posted by tngeoff on January 21, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on down Jomarcus. We need you big time.

Posted by RockyTopRooks on January 21, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wear the Real Orange!

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think some had maybe written this kid off so this is fairly good news. For UT to pull even with Auburn is definitely a good sign when recruiting for DL's.

Posted by callen825 on January 21, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on Jomarcus...we need you. Watch the ex-Vols play in the SuperBowl on Feb 3rd!

Posted by vol1994 on January 21, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

come on big guy- We need you!!
come wear the ORANGE and play at the best stadium in America- Period!!!

Come help the Big Orange win a SEC title and a possible National title over the next 4 years!!

I BELIEVE!! GO vols!!

Posted by FWBVol on January 21, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Some people were knocking Phillip Fulmer for being at the basketball game Saturday implying, and some coming right out and saying, he should have been recruiting.

Seems like ole Phillip knew what he was doing. He had recruits in for the weekend and while they were at the basketball game he enjoyed it too.

It looks as if he did a pretty good job on selling UT to this kid. Now let's hope we can finish the deal and get him in an orange jersey next fall.

Posted by RockyTop1 on January 21, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Come on UP" is the direction he needs to head to get to Tennessee (Hwy 72 to I-24 E, I-75 N then I-40 E), if he "...comes on down.... " as suggested, that would be in the direction of Auburn!! GO VOLS!!

Posted by jawbreaker on January 21, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another positive effect of Coach Bruce Pearl on the overall Tennessee athletic program--Ol' Jomarcus was duly impressed with the spectacle at Thompson-Boling on Saturday. That aspect would have been a negative three years ago.

Posted by utfpmd on January 21, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This kid WILL PLAY as a freshman. What an opportunity!

Posted by pdhuff on January 21, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This article is spot on. Shouldn't be much pine time for a big DE. Come on.

Posted by KingsportVol on January 21, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't find any info on this guy at Rivals.Anybody got anything on him?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kingsport, he should be there. They have him a high 3* if I remember correctly.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 21, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

his neck and shoulder muscles are bigger than most peoples legs!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Ironcity on January 21, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jamarcus seemed to think it was pretty loud at the Bball game. If he went to Auburn game then we have it made. YOu can hear a pin drop in that place and its never 50% full.

Posted by givim6 on January 21, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have built a coaching staff, now the players will come. Just watch Orange brothers, we will get the players we need.

I have said it before and I truly believe that Recruiting class rankings by the so-called gurus don't necessarily mean anything.

The road to a utopian college team is littered with the failures of top ten rated recruiting classes and five star bloopers.

Posted by britt on January 21, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If hes impressed with 20k at TBA wait til he sees 5x that at Neyland

Posted by givehim6 on January 21, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have said, "next year will be our year". But prove me wrong young man! we need you on D, join berry&co. we need a great D.

Posted by knoxsingle on January 21, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Jomarcus wants to play in the NFL one day, he'd be much better off at Tennessee because we play in the SEC East. He'd play against Florida and Georgia every year, which matters a lot in terms of competition.

Posted by vols76 on January 21, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Condredge Holloway was from Huntsville. He was QB at Lee High School in Huntsville, Al. Savage probably don't even know who Condredge is? I hope he comes to Tennessee because we need him at the DE position.

Posted by rodneyadms on January 22, 2008 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes Bossvol..Jason Swain was from Huntsville as was Joey Kent I beleive.

Posted by TheGeneral on January 22, 2008 at 1:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, both are from Huntsville. Swain went to Grissom High. Joey Kent went to Johnson, the same school as Savage.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 22, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Once he gets a taste of the worst campus in the SEC down in Columbia, we should be good to go.

Posted by marc_ash on January 22, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So, Alabama hasn't offered him a scholarship hu? Interesting. He may go to Auburn just out of principal so he can show the detergent makers why they shouldn't have passed on him.

Hope he comes to Rocky Top, he can show em just fine wearing an Orange Jersey.

Posted by hueypilot on January 22, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"...so loud in that gym" ??? "Crowd sitting on its hands" from other posts. I'm confused. Living in Florida I haven't been to a Tennessee basketball game on campus in many, many years. Which is it? And don't try to compare it to Duke. Those people have had years to get their gig right and they have expended zero effort at football games. So is the home court decent at TBA or not?

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 22, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

huey, sitting on their hands is more appropriate. Unless we hit a 3 pointer or get a dunk, it a pretty solem 20k in there. Students are pretty pumped though for the TV games, can't complain there. But from 10 rows up...not much happening.

Posted by txsvol on January 22, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys are picky! tngeoff probably said, "Come on down," referring to the game show, "The Price is Right." And RockyTop1 wanted to give a geography lesson! We might actually get Savage, who wore #45, but at 6' 3 1/2" 270#, may grow into a DT for us. A fairly solid Auburn commit, Cameron Henderson of Shades Valley, is also visiting us this weekend. Go Vols! SAVol

Posted by tripper on January 22, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GreerVol22- I guess Jomarcus Savage doesn't see it that way. He must have thought it was a somewhat different atmosphere than you. Oh yea, he said, “It was so loud in that gym and I was like, ‘This is basketball.’ I got chills in that game. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is a pretty nice atmosphere.’

Posted by johnlg00 on January 22, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, GreerVol22, if you were referring to USC at Columbia, I don't know what part of the campus you thought was so ugly! I'm a Tennessean and Orange through and through, but I have spent a good deal of time on the USC campus, and I think it is beautiful. OK, you did say "worst", which I suppose can be interpreted to mean something other than merely "ugliest", but still, there is no part of the UTK campus (from which I have two degrees) as pretty as the old quad at USC. Also, I wouldn't trade Neyland for it, but the USC football stadium is pretty darned impressive, IMHO, as is the Carolina Center, where they play basketball.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 22, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Having said all the above, I DO hope the young man comes here. As I said, I wouldn't trade Neyland for any stadium in the country, and I CERTAINLY wouldn't trade our football program for theirs! I hope Savage doesn't, either.

Posted by pdhuff on January 22, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

johnlg00- do you eat that barbecue with all that mustard in it?

Posted by hueypilot on January 22, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The South Carolina Football stadium? I went there for the game last year, left a tailgate 300 yard from the stadium 45 minutes before kickoff and missed the kickoff. Huge bottleneck to get in the stadium, along with lots of SC fans, not just the visitors entrance which is usually subpar everywhere, but the SC fans say it was like that at every game. Worst entry bottleneck I've ever seen. In line for thirty minutes with crowd pressed so tight it was like Jackson Square New Years Eve 1985 for those of you that remember that scary scene. In fairness the stadium isn't a campus facility, but I'd think we could sell our campus vs. anyone else's in the conference, pretty favorably. JMO

Posted by marc_ash on January 22, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Look, anyone that talks about campus' being ugly should really be careful. I love UT. Worked there, took classes there, VASF doner...I bleed orange. However, UT is far from the most beautiful campus in the SEC.

UT knows their buildings and facilities are old. That is why they are on the 10 year plan (that will end up being the 30 year plan by the time its said and done). I was worked at UT when it started and was able to provide input to the vision.

UT has a beautiful tradition with many beautiful things...but as far as the beauty of the campus...it lacks.

Posted by GoVol on January 22, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The worst entry bottleneck award officially goes to the University of California. I've never experienced such a poorly engineered stadium in my life and such poor facilities. Absolutely the worst I have ever seen!!

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Now, let's hope spurrier takes this kid to a USC b-ball game.SAVAGE:"Man this is weak".Ring-hello.SAVAGE:"Coach Fulmer, I want to be a Vol".

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This kids best attribute is his motor.Watch the highlight video.He never gives up on a play.We need Savage.Plus, cmon you gotta love the name.http://tennessee.rivals.com/view...

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 22, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll take the walk from the Torch, to The Hill, back down the Strip, and back up Andy Holt over anything USC has to offer any day....I leave frat row out because i could not afford the shirts with the little alligators on them.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 22, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, I lived in a small town in the Lowcountry for a couple of years, and that is the only kind of BBQ you can get down there. I have to say it was...all right. Besides, the BBQ restaurants are the social centers of those little towns. I must say I enjoyed that part of my stay, though they are rather obnoxious chauvinists about their BBQ. Anyway, not wishing to start any BBQ flame wars, I will say that the best BBQ I ever ate was in my uncle's little diner in Paris, TN about 50 years ago. It was pulled, with spicy red sauce, about an inch or two of meat on a burger bun with sweet, creamy cole slaw and crisp, hot huspuppies on the side, washed down with a cold Dr. Pepper in a glass bottle. I have spent all the time since looking, without success, for any BBQ that could touch it! Maybe it is just the association with happy childhood memories, but no other BBQ has ever come close.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 22, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greervol22, I treasure the memories the walk you described evokes, but, seriously, do you think that is PRETTIER than the old quad at USC? There is nothing at UTK that matches the blend of architecture and landscaping of the USC quad. I think anyone seeing it for the first time would say, "Now that is what a university campus should look like." Oh well, this forum is for people to express their opinions, and I guess ours differ. Anyway, I hope we can agree that we want UT to win in ANY contest with USC, especially the recruiting one!

Posted by thesavageorange on January 22, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If it was about how pretty a campus was, Ole Miss would be a national power.It's georgious.

Posted by TommyJack on January 22, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pretty campi, huh? Now I KNOW we need a new article.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 23, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

savage, you are right, Ole Miss does have a beautiful campus. Luckily, beauty of a campus does not automatically translate into athletic success!
TJ, ain't it funny how some of these threads migrate? Such as the ones where posters manage to get "fire Fulmer" into basketball articles(;-P).

Posted by thesavageorange on January 24, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/SPORTS/80122030in

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