Giles
First-year Tennessee running backs coach Stan Drayton put the Vols in the lead for Jarvis Giles. The city of Knoxville sealed the deal.
Giles, one of the top prospects in the nation, didn’t even need to step foot in East Tennessee to realize where he needed to be. The running back from Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., saw his future home during his inbound flight.
“Oh my God! Is that a mountain? Is that a mountain?” the 5-foot-11, 178-pound Giles exclaimed Friday, recalling his emotions when he first saw Knoxville. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I was trippin’.”
Giles flew into Knoxville on Wednesday. A day later Giles committed, an easy decision once he met the town’s citizens.
“People I don’t even know walk up to me and shake my hand and ask me how I’m doing,” Giles said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Everybody here’s a family. I respect that.
“There’s a lot of love.”
One of those citizens Giles met was Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summit. Giles was admittedly starstruck.
“I love that lady to death,” he said. “I almost had a heart attack.”
Giles is UT’s second commitment in two days as the Vols hold their football camp this week. Offensive lineman Kevin Revis of Rhea County committed Thursday to UT.
Giles is rated as the 99th best player in the nation and 13th best tailback by Rivals.com. He also has been invited to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
UT beat out Georgia and Clemson, among many others, for Giles’ services.
“It’s a lot of relief off my shoulders,” said Giles, who ran for 1,501 yards and 20 touchdowns on 224 carries last season. “I’m pretty happy about it.”
Giles is a rare prospect. It’s not often that such a highly touted player from Florida has no interest in Florida, Florida State or Miami.
Such was the case with Giles all along. Each of Florida’s big three pursued Giles, but he said early and often that he was determined to leave the Sunshine State.
Giles is the second prospect committed to UT that is listed on Rivals Top 100 list. Receiver Je’Ron Stokes from Northeast High in Philadelphia is rated 51st best in the nation.
With high rankings will come high expectations. That doesn’t bother Giles.
“I’m not going to come in all cocky and think I’m going to run things. (But) I’m going to try to break the freshman (rushing) record and be a Heisman candidate,” Giles said.
Whatever happens on the field, it seems Giles will be happy in Knoxville, far away from the mean looks he says he receives in his hometown.
“I’ve never seen anything like this community,” he said. “Never.”
Giles is UT’s sixth commitment for the 2009 signing class. He joins Revis, Stokes, tailback Toney Williams of Milton High in Alpharetta, Ga., running back Dominique Allen from Henry County High in Paris, Tenn., and athlete Damien Thigpen from Stonewall Jackson High in Manassas, Va.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 143
TommyJack writes:
I'm sure he's not someone FL would have wanted. Right 99?
thesavageorange writes:
This is great news.Giles is a steal.Good job coach Drayton.We are picking up some momentum.
TommyJack writes:
Savage: You know this kid?
thesavageorange writes:
I said a while back I thought we would get 3-4 coming out of camp.Word is Je'ron Stokes is a big factor in the recruiting game for us and is like having an extra recruiter out there.
I love ya already Stokes.
auttat writes:
So what is the complaint on this kid? Not from Tennessee? Florida's scraps? Only 4 stars? Too small? Too slow? Bad name? Momma doesn't cook well enough? Daddy doesn't make enough money?
Seriously, Mr. Giles, thanks for seeing the light. You will like it here in East Tennessee.
thesavageorange writes:
TommyJack ,Nah just how he plays.He is a perfect fit for Clawsons offense.He is rated the #5 home run threat and the #2 rated most dangerous in space in the entirre country.Plus he is another kid w/ no history of criminal or academic trouble.I really like this new staff.Well atleast recruiting wise.
bshone#598776 writes:
Good work Coach Drayton.
thesavageorange writes:
TJ, I have a serious problem.I spend around 8 hr's a day watching film going on recruiting boards/news sites, and talking to guys at a recruiting service that I worked at for 3-4 yr's.Trust me Giles has the goods.
99gator writes:
tommyjack
he was on florida's radar. this situation is a numbers thing.
florida has a commitment from a kid in valdosta who is a small kid (like giles). between, rainey, the commitment from valdosta, and another player who's name escapes me.....florida has all the small running backs they want.
florida wants a bigger back. so, they were/are done with scat back types for this year.
but, this kid is a good one, that if florida was looking for that type of back.....they would have pursued him more intently.
i'll put it this way.....i don't know why miami and fsu were not after him.
invisiblekid writes:
Agree on the new staff Savage O. They seem to be sealing the deals(figuratively speaking since nothing is official until LOI day) on these guys early which was a common complaint I had in previous years. It seemed that recruiting for the Vols never really picked up until the final couple of weeks. Sounds like the kid has some big play ability, nearly 7 yards a carry, and we can always use that.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
WOW!!!!! Good pickup! Way to go staff!
ctownvol writes:
I just watched his highlight video on rivals and even though it was against highschool kids, this kid looks FAST! Ran well inside too. Just an inch of daylight and he was gone. I like it. I love it. I want some DTs!
99gator writes:
tommyjack
this kid runs a 4.35 40 yard dash.....
so, yes, again under normal circumstances....florida would have been all over him. whether, he wanted to go to florida or not i do not know.
agree with savage....this kid is a good one. again, shows the power of florida state and miami right now.
ctownvol writes:
Hey tngeoff! How's things going ol pal? You done traveling for a while now?
auttat writes:
"Giles also considered Louisville, Clemson, Nebraska and Arkansas."
Forgot to add this to my complaint list: Not recruited by the right schools?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Chavis doesn't like to recruit, so he shouldn't have to.
rusty_shackleford writes:
It seems that we've got more announced recruited for next year than ever before. I'm wondering if the old strategy was to keep everything quiet and then make a big splash at the end (no pun intended...honest) to create buzz about the program.
Does it that seem that way to anyone else or just me?
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Workin.
Thank you for having a positive comment. Really, thanks.
invisiblekid writes:
99Gator, Meyer offered him a scholarship.
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/spo...
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/spo...
99gator writes:
tommyjack
i'll put it even another way. on a gator site, this is a topic of discussion.
one comment....damn, i was hoping he would go somewhere else.
another comment.....best of luck to giles. tennessee got a good one.
so, there you go.
invisiblekid writes:
"Maybe CPF should have hired Richmond's DC too?"
SJT18, Vandy dropped 41 and Appalachian scored 55 on them in the playoffs so probably not a good idea.
murrayvol writes:
savage: 8 hours a day?? Are you serious? Do you have a real job, a wife/girlfriend, a life? Has KNS approached you about replacing Hooker? LOL
Seriously, many among us appreciate what you do in this arena. If I looked at that much film, I'd be a perfect fit for a plastic jacket.
99gator writes:
invisible....
based on the site i go to....they did not make an offer. but, what would not be surprised if they did.
like i said, i know he was someone florida was recruiting.
ctownvol writes:
99gator-Thanks for the insight from the "enemy". Glad to have ya around man.
DennisVols writes:
Looking like the prediction of doom for the Vols recruiting was not true.
Less than 3 months to go until we can see what this new offensive coaching staff can do on the field.
Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
utchris writes:
http://www.rivals.com/video.asp?secti...
Interesting video on this one. He lists several schools on the video, but I have heard that Tennessee has the inside track right now, much in part to Fulmer and Pearl both recruiting him.
mjohnsonvols writes:
Hey workin great comments and to all great positive comments.
99 thanks for the info.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
sjt, I was referring to this:
"Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 13, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW!!!!! Good pickup! Way to go staff!"
Again, thanks Workin for allowing something of a positive to be posted under your name.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
The thing is now with the O staff's recruiting results, will Chavis get his feeling hurt and will he become "jealous" again of the O coaches?
thesavageorange writes:
sjt18 ,I think we will get Myles in the end.His dad is a fan of the staff and loves how CPF treats the players.I also think he will be as close to a 5 star or actually be a 5* when all is said and done.I am working on the DL thing as we speak.
I think what 99 is saying is that Giles is a bigger catch/priority for UT than it would have been for Florida, and I can't disagree.
murrayvol , I am married ,have 2 young uns, and a beutifull wife.I run my own business, and in my line of work I have lots of free time and only handle the serious issues.When I am not at work I spend all my time w/ the family.
The reason I like Giles so much is he reminds me of one of my favorite Vols...Charlie Garner
invisiblekid writes:
99Gator, I don't follow recruiting closely, just came across that site that I posted the links for while reading up on Giles. Not trying to one up you or anything. It could be erroneous or it may have been a situation where the Gators offered early then didn't pursue him very hard the past few months. Either way, he seems like a good pick up for us.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I said it's great...
to be...
a Tennessee Vol!!
Welcome to the family Jarvis.
Good job by the coaches landing this one.
Even Workin has something positive to say. Wow!
99Gator-
Got any more 4.35 40 guys down there you can send our way?
auttat writes:
"The thing is now with the O staff's recruiting results, will Chavis get his feeling hurt and will he become "jealous" again of the O coaches?"
Is this true? Did it really happen? I went to one game last year where I sat close enough to the field to see coach interaction. Chavis and Taylor gave each other a bear hug right before the game.
thesavageorange writes:
Yes sjt, Giles had around 25 schools to choose from.The schools listed in the article were his top 5.That included UF,FSU,and Miami.
thesavageorange writes:
That included UF,FSU,and Miami.I meant in the original 25 or so.
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, agreed on Chavis. To be truthful about the matter, my feelings wouldn't have been hurt if he would have went to the Falcons freeing the Vols up to make a push for Muschamp. Chavis has put together some solid defenses but there has been plenty of times, thinking FL in the 90's specifically and most of the past two years, where the defense has been an Achilles heel.
Phowell23 writes:
Giles has tremoundous potential. He can really pound the ball watching his highlight films and is very fast. He shoots through the middle or on the outside. Put some muscle on him, and he'll have 1000+ yard seasons in the SEC for the VOLS.
99gator writes:
invisible
maybe florida backed off because it was a lost cause. don't know. info from my peeps says that at this point they want a big back.
truth be told, that doesn't sound like meyer. meyer takes 4.35 guys whenever he can get em. so, i don't necessarily buy the info i've got. but, the people i get info from are usually very reliable.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
who knows if it's true or not? Apparently Chavis wasn't fond of some offensive coaches and his antics. Others have said some of the coaches got jealous of Trooper getting alot of credit for recruiting and that he was the highest paid assistant coach (that wasn't a coordinator). Bear hug or no bear hug, Hamilton gave Buzzball a High 5 after the win vs, Arky in the tournament and then fired him a few days later.
invisiblekid writes:
99Gator, it stands to reason that they wouldn't need another "scat" back.
TommyJack writes:
99/Savage: Thanks to both...good info
IBleedOrange444 writes:
mcbrim-
Other than a sarcastic post by auttat, you are the only one who has mentioned stars on this thread, so your arogant post is also invalid.
Kindest regards
99gator writes:
ibleedorange
i'm sure there are. florida can't get them all and fsu amd miami can be had.
florida has a high priority for wr's. harvin will leave early, murphy graduates, ingram graduates and carl moore is a junior (as a jc transfer) so, they will want wr's badly. already have one commit there.
they were also interested in the wr from philly who committed to tenn. but, don't know if he was given an offer either.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
sjt18-
Good observation. I think that is where we have to be if we are going to compete with UF and the rest of the upper echelon of the SEC. It is all about speed.
invisiblekid writes:
auttat, nothing was published that came directly from Chavis or Taylor but there was enoough speculation on the subject that that it could well be true. Sort of situation of where there's smoke, there's probably a fire.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
McBrimming_with_ignorance
I do not think the number of stars this kid has "earned" has even been discussed at any length.
But to play your game...Nobody has said that "stars don't matter". All anyone has said is that sometimes a hometown 3-star is a diamond in the rough and favorable over a 5-star who has a rap sheet and can't qualify with academics. However, I doubt you'll find anyone here who'll "complain" about Fulmer signing a 5* unless there is a known liability like a criminal record.
Please find something actually relevant to poke at us with. You're reaching.
ctownvol writes:
Mcmoron-The only thing that didn't matter yesterday and still doesn't matter today is you.
invisiblekid writes:
My uneducated guess is that Chavis didn't like the fact that Taylor catapulted over all of his long time assistants on the pay scale in short order as well sjt18.
Vol_in_LSU_Land, I'll actually give McRib the benefit of the doubt on the stars issue. There was another discussion on the Revis story yesterday about the never-ending recruiting stars count/ no they don't debate.
thesavageorange writes:
sjt18 ,Yes.We are in the top 5 for Gilmore.I think we are a silent leader for him, but family ties in SC will keep Clemson and SC in the mix.Jonathan Hefney may be the biggest help we have.Eric Berry being a fast rising celeb isn't hurting on the recruiting front either.
thesavageorange writes:
Ohh, Gilmore will be here this weekend as well.Who knows, maybe Stokes and Giles can work on him a little, although I think he'll wait.Gilmore will be a corner.
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