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Bohannon was tired of waiting

By Dave Hooker (Contact)
Originally published 07:14 p.m., January 29, 2008
Updated 07:35 p.m., January 29, 2008

Alabama tried to keep Willie Bohannon at bay. Now that ship has sailed.

Bohannon, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound defensive end from Blount High School in Mobile, Ala., committed to Tennessee late Tuesday. He said the Crimson Tide is now trying to make a strong push to secure his signature on Feb. 6, National Signing Day.

Bohannon, however, doesn’t seem swayed by the in-state power.

It was Alabama that first came calling with a scholarship offer before anyone else. Last spring, coach Nick Saban tried to convince Bohannon to commit to the Crimson Tide, only to then try to postpone Bohannon’s decision.

Tired of waiting, Bohannon went to Saban last fall and said he was ready to commit. Bohannon said that’s when he was told there was no scholarship available, that the class was almost full with more than 20 commitments.

“I was real upset about it,” Bohannon said Wednesday.

Some have questioned whether Bohannon was ever actually offered a scholarship by Alabama. Bohannon maintains he was offered but admits that waiting may have hurt his cause.

“It gave me something to prove to them and everybody else,” he said.

The motivation must have helped. Bohannon was just named one of the top five sleepers in the nation according to Rivals.com.

After the Alabama disappointment, Bohannon quickly latched onto Kentucky and committed in December. Bohannon said he always had an eye on UT, but said he was scared to be recruited by another big-time program.

“It was hard for me to trust a program like Tennessee because they’re like Alabama,” Bohannon said.

Then came the challenging decision to de-commit to one school and pledge his services to one of its rivals.

“I decided to commit to Tennessee because I like the opportunities a lot more at Tennessee than at Kentucky,” Bohannon said.

By opportunities, Bohannon means UT’s ability to mold him into an NFL prospect.

“There was a better chance of me going to Tennessee, then the NFL than (doing so at) Kentucky,” Bohannon said.

One might think that Bohannon already has the third Saturday in October circled on his calendar. Not so. Whatever motivation an Alabama snub may have given Bohannon has long since passed.

“Actually, I’m looking forward to playing in Pasadena,” Bohannon said, referring to UT’s second game of the season against UCLA. “I’m looking forward to playing Alabama just because it’s a rivalry game.

“When I go to Tennessee for my summer workouts, I’m not just going to have on my mind ‘Beat Alabama’. I want to beat everybody. I want to win an SEC championship.”

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       58 Comments

Posted by AllVol on January 29, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Welcome to Big Orange Country, Willie. Beat everybody, son. Beat the hell out of everybody.

Posted by pdhuff on January 29, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow. "Win an SEC championship". Now we're on the right track. C'mon Bohannon.

Posted by agr_vol on January 29, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

maybe the 'tide' is turning a little

Posted by kdt0725 on January 29, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by nivatne on January 29, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

These are the guys we need to recruit. Who cares about stars? If this guy comes out every game picturing Nick Satan's face on the opposing QB, other teams better watch out. We need guys like this with a strong work ethic and a desire to prove everyone wrong. Go get 'em Willie. Go knock the he!! out of JPW and the rest of Saban's possie

Posted by volinSmyrna on January 29, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

“It was hard for me to trust a program like Tennessee because they’re like Alabama,” Bohannon said.

Whoa there young fella. Unless you got a check when you committed, we are not like Alabama.

In all seriousness...welcome young man. Wear the Big Orange proudly.

Posted by IPOrange on January 29, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol, I'm starting to become a believer, brother! I hope that more is on the way, but things are already looking better than they did just a few days ago.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 29, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Top 5 Sleepers???

Rivals top 5 Sleepers = athletes that are deserving of more stars which we withhold from their ranking so we can create a "top 5 sleepers" category to generate more web traffic.

I mean come on... if you already know he has that potential as a recruiting service, just give him the stars!

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 29, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol,

It's not getting old as long as it keeps gettin' true.

I like others still don't see how it is going to be possible to pull of what you are saying, but I am willing to keep my mouth shut, hope, and reserve judgment for the end of a situation.

Posted by Coach_Joe on January 29, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well said VolinSmyrna! Well said!

Posted by foreverorange on January 29, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Finally a solid DL. Hope he really is a top 5 sleeper. GO VOLS!

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 29, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One of the more beautiful combination of words in the english involves the words "Alabama and Violations".

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 29, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please find my previous post and insert the word LANGUAGE in between the words ENGLISH and INVOLVES. It makes more sense. Sorry.

If you are an Alabama fan it doesn't really make a difference so please disregard.

Posted by surlyguy on January 29, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Best, most entertaining thread I've read here yet. AllVol, volinSmyrna, nicksjuzunk, y'all got me in stitches.

The team motto for 2008 needs to be "Beat everybody, son. Beat the hell out of everybody"

Posted by StaytheCourse on January 29, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wonder if Major Wingate and Lamarcus Coker kick it sometimes?

Posted by SmokeDog72 on January 29, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

StaytheCourse,

You know what they say: "Friends with weed are friends indeed".

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 29, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hearing from some rumblins..... that Davis out of Hargrave Military Academy may be changing his area code to 865.
GO Vols!!!

Posted by vol1994 on January 29, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol,

Not sure who your source is but ... top 15 class?

I posted about a week ago that Fulmer was surprised of the # of recruits that were going elsewhere. Then I made a few comments that Fulmer and staff were bringing in someone under the radar who we never really recruited before..
Well we offered the kid a scholarship (Murfreesboro) and have a couple other kids commit that were not recruited heavily by other major universities. I am not getting too caught up in the rankings but just want you to explain how you predict we will be in the top 15, heck the top 25.

I am not friends with fulmer or any other coach but
my source (I hate using that word) has been dead on about recruiting thus far.

Please explain as your information contradicts mine.. course I havent talked to John in two days but i can't imagine too many changes in that time period. To attain a top 15 class there have to be some studs decommit that are 4* and 5*!
Thanks and I look forward to your post.

Ps. Bama is killing us with the zone defense as we cant buy a bucket!!

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 29, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another rumblin.....Bohannon
Go Vols!!!

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 29, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another rumblin.....Coples my fault.
Go Vols!!!

Posted by volinSmyrna on January 29, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Surlyguy, glad we can be of service.

wuwh_08...my opinion is if we get Coples, we get Davis. My gut is we get either both or neither. If we got that duo, that would all but erase the memory of that month where nothing good happened. The Davis kid looks to be a great back. I wonder how much that "scrimmage" that took place earlier against Hargrave factors into it?

Posted by utchris2003 on January 29, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

865 ... That is VOL on your touchtone phones for all you non Tennessee fans!

Posted by utmdm on January 29, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good point about the scrimmage.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 29, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That was the whole genius behind the hargraves junior varsity game.

We basically brought in, I don't know, 45 players on an unofficial visit who would love to play Division 1 ball next year. They got to see Neyland first hand, talk with the coaches, players, and see what the level is like in the SEC first hand.

That was brilliance gentlemen.

Posted by orangeinmississippi on January 29, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WILLLLIEEEE,you picked the right 1 baabbby!!!! Welcome to Big Orange Country SON!!!!!

Posted by rbatten9 on January 29, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is the kind of attitude we need on The Hill!
(provided he does good in school and keeps out of trouble)

Posted by Indianavol on January 29, 2008 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't look now, but there are Bammer Morons trolling here and posting on TurdSports.com.

Bammer fans are such low-life scum. They deserve a loser every year. Sooner or later, the NCAA will catch the Cheating Tide and we will be rid of the Crimson Turd once and for all!

ATTN BAMMER MORON NATION: How about that BIG ORANGE win in Tuscaloser tonight?? They don't call it Tuscaloser for no reason!

BITE ME BAMMER!

Posted by Rok_Etop on January 30, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)

SPHS Vol. Leak a bit of your info to prove you know what your talking about. Studying the top 10 QB claim, my guess is the only one to back out of a committ may be #8 QB Tyler Smith from Arkansas. Whay would he want to go there, red shirt a year behind Casey Dong and then set behing Ryan Mallet for the rest of his time.

Did any one see the Bama signs at the game tonight?? Phat Phil loves to squeal and the 41 to 17 signs? Buck Fama!! Go Vols

Posted by Indianavol on January 30, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rok Etop;

I did notice the inbred Bammer Morons holding the sign about Fulmer. Did you also see the toothless hillbillies wearing the houndstooth hats like "the Bar" wore"? They looked silly and showed America just how disgusting they are.

As for the Phil sign, the Bammer Moron Nation is just green with envy because Fulmer owns their sorry, cheating @asses. They wish they had a coach with Fulmer's winning percentage!

BUCK FAMA; you guys suck!

Posted by utmdm on January 30, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This guy is rated 8th on juco rivals and has Tennessee listed. Don't know much about him and have not heard him mentioned with Tenn as I remember...

8 Tevita Finau
Phoenix (AZ) Phoenix C.C. DE 6-5/275 list

Posted by Colliervol on January 30, 2008 at 1 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why in the world would I want to go on tidesports.com and why would I have any interest in anything they have to say? The answer to that is "I don't". Twice.

And besides, I have enough trouble losing IQ points by reading posts from some of our "fans" on this site, much less reading wisdom from the Mullet Nation. Wouldn't subject myself to it. (Used to listen to Finebaum a little but I gave that up. The gene pool among his callers is a bit too shallow for my taste.)

Posted by Indianavol on January 30, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Colliervol;

Great points all!

I lived in Birmingham from 1995 to 1999 and listened to Finebaum every day. I thought it was great entertainment due to the Bammer Moron Nation callers!

Posted by stroker on January 30, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Colliervol -right on bud!

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 30, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DE - Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy
Says he is waiting to announce on Signing Day. Is considered a UNC lean.

RIVALS IS SAYING COPLES IS A UNC LEAN

Posted by 99gator on January 30, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

atlvol1

y'all probably don't want coples anyway. he is one of those highly rated guys that won't work hard, not perform on the field and get in trouble off of it.

you want one of those 2* guys with heart. they always work out and are darn near a sure thing to bring championships.

plus if he commits, there is less room for those recruits sphs_vols says you are going to steal.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 30, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

99, make yourself useful and bring us some intel on recruits in FL; surely there's more down there than you guys can sign.

Posted by sjt18 on January 30, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How old is that info ATLVOL?

I've seen some suggestions later that he and Davis are very seriously considering UT together. Davis talked to Coples about it and Cople's impression of his UT visit. He went on to say that they were going to discuss it more after Davis visits this weekend.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 30, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gator,

You seem to be doubting sphs-vols. Do you think anyone would dare talk that big unless they were an opposing fan just really trying to do a number on the other fans? (hint: Colliervol, that is why you would want to go to tidesports.com. Tell them that Pryor is a lock on signing day.)

Anyway, we will have to wait and see. I am sure your class is loaded though huh gator? Must be nice when your backyard practically grows 5* athletes.

Posted by 99gator on January 30, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

orangebloodgmc

for the future.....i would recommend tapping into the jacksonville, fl, area. it is the one area where none of the florida schools seem to have a strangle hold.

clemson, illinois, wake forest, and several others have gotten some very good players from the area.

for the most part, forget getting a player out of tampa, orlando, miami or tallahassee. the panhandle can be had, but you have to fight alabama and auburn out there as much as florida and florida state.

i have followed florida's recruiting without paying too much attention to those not being pursued by florida, florida state and miami. i will say that ohio state, clemson, illinois and a few others pull out two to four a year.

south florida gets the recruits who are promising, but have issues....academics and discipline.

Posted by jack_2222 on January 30, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the tide play at Louisiana Monroe in '08? I know they hosted them in '07. It'll be a barnburner.

Posted by 99gator on January 30, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

nicksjuzunk

obviously, geography helps florida....but for the record.....

half of florida's commitments are from out of state.

will hill (nj)
omar hunter (ga)
carl moore (ca)
dee finley (al)
brendan beal (pa)
william green (al)
omarius hines (tx)
adrian bushell (tx)
tj pridemore (ga)
sam robey (ky)
troy epps (ks)

now, truth be told.....epps and moore are jucos so i don't know where they are originally from

Posted by 99gator on January 30, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the only 5* player committed that florida got from in state is matt patchan. (3 are from out of state, hunter, hill, and moore)

in 2007, they got three 5* players from out of state (aaron hernandez, justin trattou and carlos dunlap).

in 2006, they also got three 5* players from out of state (percy harvin, brandon spikes, and carl johnson)

Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 30, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks. We've gotten FL guys in past from Palatka, Delray Beach, Pensacola, Frostproof and Miami.

Posted by BigOrange1 on January 30, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

J. Savage just committed to Auburn. That blows!

Posted by utmdm on January 30, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We sure are clearing the decks for all those 4 and 5 star last minute defections.

Posted by sjt18 on January 30, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yep. That's not good. Second place once again.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 30, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WE'LL LOSE MCCLINE TO AUBURN TOO PROB.

RIVALS IS REPORTING COPLES LEANING TOWARDS UNC TOO

AND INTERESTINGLY ON A POSITIVE NOTE,,,,HUGHES WENT FROM A 0* TO A 3* #49 RANKED DT ALL OF A SUDDEN

Posted by DannyVol on January 30, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Welcome to UT, Willie...and all that. However, I seriously hope you get your head back onto your shoulders after removing it from somewhere else. You sound like a gamble that could be here pretty briefly, if you arrive at all. Prove me wrong.

Seriously, was this guy really tired of waiting...or did someone decent, who needs DEs like a fish needs water, finally (reluctantly) give this "sleeper" a scholarship offer?

After 'Bama dropped him, he committed to Kentucky with what sounded like bridge-burning words: "It was hard for me to trust a program like Tennessee because they’re like Alabama.” Then he decommitted to KY and landed back here...so he could go "pro".

So far it "sounds like a duck"; let's hope it's not.

Posted by marc_ash on January 30, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't have a good feeling about this guy...

Posted by marc_ash on January 30, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

“It was hard for me to trust a program like Tennessee because they’re like Alabama,” Bohannon said.

Not a good way to start your career in Big Orange country.

Something just doesn't feel right about this....

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 30, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another rumblin.....Coples my fault.
Go Vols!!!

Posted by rolltide12 on January 30, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Im a huge Bama fan, and I would have to say Willie Bohannon is very good player. But im pretty sure bama wasnt trying to get him. Bama only has a few people on there list they want. And i know Antoine McClain is probably going to playing in Knoxville, but Im just gonna say this before you Vol Moron Nation (sound familier) think you stole 1 from CNS. Antoine tried to commit to the Tide twice and they wouldnt take him for academic reasons and they had other OLs higher on there list, Barret Jones maybe. So ROLL TIDE 41-17, oh and Indianavol if Bammer Moron Nation is the only thing you can think of then you need to think of something better, cause thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard, and nobody on this forum will admit it, but i can guarantee you half of them thinks its stupid to

Posted by rubbervol on January 30, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is awesome---and from T Martins home town !

Posted by volinSmyrna on January 31, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

rolltide12....let me help Indianavol out.

How about 5th place in the West.
Or...."Louisiana Monroe???????????????"

enough said. bye bye

Posted by sjt18 on January 31, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

rolltide is correct about McClain. He wanted to commit and they put him off in favor of some other guys and B Jones was one of them. Had Jones committed to UT, they would have probably taken McClain then. It seems like they see them on the same plane as far as ability but Jones has the grades.

McClain may have to go to prep school which is fine for UT but not so much for Bama. Bama needs guys who can contribute soon. UT would be fine with a guy who contributes in 1-3 years.

Posted by scttmcdonald on January 31, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://forums.tidesports.com/eve/foru...

I just couldnt resist the suggestion of an earlier post. Heck... I even used their language!

Posted by rolltide12 on January 31, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey VolinSmyrna, how bout getting that ass kicked by the 5th place team team in the West, and to a team that lost to UL Monroe, enough said bye bye.

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