It was only fitting that Tennessee was the first school to offer a scholarship to Malik Stokes.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior quarterback from Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Pa., received the offer while participating in UT's summer camp last week.
Stokes arrived in Knoxville hoping to impress UT's coaches and earn an offer.
"Tennessee has great coaches," he said. "I wanted to put in some work and go down there and show them what I've worked for. I got an offer and that's what I wanted."
Stokes' trip to Knoxville last week wasn't his first.
Stokes has accompanied his brother, receiver Je'Ron Stokes, during several visits to UT over the past two years.
Je'Ron Stokes is committed to sign with the Vols in February.
Both brothers made the return appearance to UT last week, but this trip was for the younger recruit.
During the camp, Malik Stokes was able to work with new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who also coaches quarterbacks.
"He's a cool guy," Stokes said of Clawson. "He's very intelligent as far as the way he runs things, runs his offense and the way he teaches. He's very intelligent."
It was a new experience for Stokes to work with Clawson.
Stokes' time with coach Phillip Fulmer was more familiar.
Stokes, who has developed a relationship with Fulmer during his brother's recruitment, said he's impressed by the family atmosphere Fulmer has created at UT.
"He's somebody you can feel comfortable being around when you're far away from home as Je'Ron will be," Stokes said. "(Fulmer is) a loving guy.
"You know he has your back. He's a truthful guy. He's a great coach, great mentor and great person."
Stokes will have support from his brother as he goes through the recruiting process.
Malik Stokes said he'll lean on Je'Ron whenever he needs advice.
"He knows what certain schools will do and say to try to get you and they may not be truthful," Malik Stokes said. "He knows the ins and outs.
"He'll be by my side to help me out. We talk all the time so he'll be a major factor for my decision."
Playing with his brother at UT will be a factor in Stokes' decision as well.
Stokes said they often discuss the idea of playing together past high school.
Stokes said he expects his brother to continue to endorse UT while also respecting the importance of the recruiting process.
"First and foremost he already knows Tennessee is one of my top schools," Malik Stokes said. "Tennessee is my first offer.
"I really like Tennessee. He knows regardless Tennessee will definitely be in my top five."
Stokes said he still has plenty to sort through before he makes a decision.
He said he's received strong interest from Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Rutgers, Clemson and Maryland.
Like his brother, Stokes said he hopes to choose a college before his senior season.
"It might go a little longer than what I plan but hopefully I can make a decision before my senior year," he said.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
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Comments » 45
LanceR24 writes:
Je'Ron you have been a recruiter so far so convice your brother as well.
bluetick writes:
6'1" 170 ? That isn't a big QB. Thats thin actually. I wonder what the pluses are to this guy. I'm sure there are some positives or he wouldn't have been offered a scholarship by some of the big name schools that are recruiting him. Anybody have any video of him that shows his strengths?
LanceR24 writes:
bluetick
he is gonna be a junior this year that so he has plenty of time to grow some more.
Ironcity writes:
Bluetick remember he is only 16 years old. Given time I think he will grow quite a bit.
orange4ever writes:
There's a clip on him at rivals.com.You don't have to be a member.
bluetick writes:
Thanks LanceR, Ironcity and orange4ever.
GreerVol22 writes:
what happens if Malik Stokes meets up with Chavis...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl_Llt...
utchris writes:
Kind of reminds me of a smaller Tee Martin from his video. Mobile, but looks to be a throw first, run when you have to. Strong arm and looks pretty accurate. Something about that deep ball reminds me of Martin.
GreerVol22 writes:
thanks Kingsport, only 100 lbs to a D-lineman!
TommyJack writes:
I'm just thrilled to know CPF is "a loving guy".
eduardo writes:
oh well, fight like heck and in the mix and in the hunt. who's gonna be F$$lmer's Candace Parker this year? Why not just sign the guy to a lifetime contract Hamilton?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
tommyjack;
I have never heard much of anyone bash Phil for not being a 'good man'. I've known of Phil ever since he palyed high school ball, Franklin County, I believe.
Phil makes some mistakes in coaching, but charactier isn't one of his flaws. I'm pretty sure you agree with me on that!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I'm with bluetick. His size is interesting. At first it looks like a benji shuler or cj leak deal but the other big schools recruiting him seems to give substance to the recruiting.
TommyJack writes:
mparker: I've never doubted his character.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
One thing that I will always respect Fulmer for is that, generally speaking, every player that comes into contact with him raves about him... what a great teacher and a great man he is, and he creates an atmosphere around the program that we can all be proud of. Of course a competitive and consistant football team is paramount, and I know we have played slightly below our own lofty standards of late, but I feel like we are moving in the right direction.
Je'Ron seems like a great kid... a high energy guy with great character. I'd love to see Malik join him and have the two of them carve out their legacy at UT.
UTVols1698 writes:
The only thing about Fulmer is that he has openly said he doesn't want to Coach forever like a JoePa or Bobby Bowden so Recruits might wonder if the coach they sign with will be there by the time they are in their Junior and Senior seasons. I love Fulmer, I want him to retire on his own terms and we will move on from there. I just hope the our next coach brings a national title to Tennessee, Fulmer has as many as Steve Spurrier did at Florida.. speaking of Florida lets go ahead and beat them this year, God I hate them.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Malik completed 50% of his passes this year for 1,256 yards and 13 TD's and Je'Ron only accounted for half of those. He did rush for 2 TD's but he wasn't a running QB at all.
Je'Ron is a 6'-1" 4.38 40 guy that is ranked as the #11 WR nationally and the 51st player.
The Giles kid is a stud! He's ranked #2 nationally as an all-purpose back. 20 TD's last seasons (scored every 11 times he was handed the ball) with a 6.2 ypc average is sweet!
Thigpen has averaged 9.13 ypc over three seasons!
Oliver had over 1,400 yards rushing with 23 TD's last season. Allen is the #4 FB nationally.
Clawson lloks like he's doing quite well so far. Slade is recruiting Stokes and Thigpen. Chief, Brooks and Caldwell have got to step up!
DadwasaVol writes:
Funny how the players, the former players, and the recruits who know him like Fulmer more than the fans that do not actually know him. You'll never hear Peyton bashing Fulmer like these posters do.
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks for the stats BigOrangeVol.
GreerVol22 writes:
Kingsport, just about any of these clip can be used on old MannyKnames. My favorite is..."You just don't get it, do you?"
http://www.dailyhaha.com/_soundboards...
Vol13 writes:
I just hope some of these skill guys don't jump ship after seeing us get our clocks cleaned a few times this year and off TV the rest of the season. We certainly will need them in the future. This is the obstacle you face when you wallow in mediocrity.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
vol13: it is reality in the SEC, dude. Extremely condeacending of you. This is NOT the pac-10 or big-10, where you have a few tough games sandwiched around the cream puffs.
UT is a solid program, puts kids in the pros, wins 8-10 games per year. It will occasionally have great years, but to think it will win a NC more than once every 40 years (with no playoffs in sight) may be a stretch. There just are NOT enough easy pickings for recruiting at UT.
IMHO, you can trace the ebb and flow of UT fotball simply by looking at how successful they are at getting linemen. LSU, Bama, Florida seem ot ALWAYS have stud DT's and DE's, solid blockers, super LB's...and most come from very near the schools. UT has to recruit nationally, and raid places like Sourh Carolina, NC, Bama, Georgia, and so forth.
To sum up, yeah, CPF has blown some (bama last year, when he coached like a wimp), but I am realistic enough to know that most UT seasons won't be all that 'special', maybe just decent with some good moments.
agentorange writes:
this guys is already bigger than tee martin and tee did just fine.
richvol writes:
No dink and dunk offense for this kid...he throws the ball down the field and with accuracy. He has the ability to run away from trouble as well. His highlight video is impressive...especially if that was his sophomore highlights.
The major problem with Ainge and Clausen was their inability to get away from pressure. Both had good arms but we need a QB that can move. I believe Crompton has that ability but we must continue to recruit mobile QB's.
jimr07 writes:
Posted by Vol13 on June 23, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hope some of these skill guys don't jump ship after seeing us get our clocks cleaned a few times this year and off TV the rest of the season. We certainly will need them in the future. This is the obstacle you face when you wallow in mediocrity.
are we still going to play out the season or do we just forfeit everything. not a down has been played and you are already talking about how bad we are going to lose. glad you are not a bama fan
TommyJack writes:
Kingsport: Don't know where Workin's been, but the misery rate must have gone up there. :)
Welcome back Workin!
invisiblekid writes:
Not sure if Savage O or anyone else has thrown this information out there yet but word from SC is that Chris Bonds is making an unofficial visit today to Knoxville. He is a 4* DT from Columbia and is the 9nth rated DT according to Rivals.
TommyJack writes:
Savage: Any take on the Kid's post?
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Is anybody else bothered by the fact that recruits are calling our coach loveable. Probably just his recuriting philosophy, but still.
P.S. invisible - if he can play DT, who cares what he is ranked, SIGN HIM UP!!
99gator writes:
now that there has been some time to pass and take it the last week in.....
is everyone happy with last week's recruiting haul?
or
were any of them guys that you wish tenn had waited to take commitments from to see if they could get bigger fish?
TommyJack writes:
I'll defer to the Savage.
invisiblekid writes:
"P.S. invisible - if he can play DT, who cares what he is ranked, SIGN HIM UP!!"
I second that foreverorange. Hoping he actually made it to campus, that's the first part of the battle. From there, they just have to get him to forget the other schools and all the big boys(including USC and ND) are looking at him.
99gator writes:
sjt18
maybe there are some expected transfers or something. maybe, they also could be cutting bait on people who failed to qualify and are trying to get in for a 2nd or 3rd time. maybe they have some people they expect to leave for the nfl early as well.
don't know.
but, they've got the numbers figured out....i promise you.
LongtimeVol writes:
I think Stokes is a perceptive young man. Fulmer has consistently shown that he loves his players and he "has their back", as several players have said lately. Of course, it is also true that the love is a bit stronger and the back protection is more durable the farther up the depth chart one's name is.
magentatoes10 writes:
Can he grow an inch or two and put on 30 pounds in 2 years?
invisiblekid writes:
"is everyone happy with last week's recruiting haul?"
99Gator, short answer to that question is NO. They didn't sign 24 defensive linemen.
Seriously, it looks to be a good start overall with Giles and Stokes the high points. The O line guys seem to all have good size and strength and hopefully Allen signals a return of the FB to the offensive scheme.
The thing is, they started strong last year as well and we all know how they finished. The coaching turnover surely had something to do with it, so I'd be a little suprised to see that happen again. Bottom line is it's far too early for me to get very excited in either direction. I've joined the chorus more than once on the DT issue and, if we get into late January without having some solid prospects locked up, I'll be sorely disappointed.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Je' Ron is the real deal apparently. His brother may be also. Welcome all.
Pretty bad slant on the headline, though. Cold shot.
GerryOP writes:
99Gator, "is everyone happy with last week's recruiting haul?"
As of today, you betcha! But, we won't know for sure until Feb 2009. It's pretty early yet and these kids have a bunch of folks that will try to get them to change their minds between now and then. I wouldn't be putting too many eggs in the basket or counting chicks hatching ... yet!
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, yes, it has been discussed ad nauseum on here but apparently, Dave Hooker disagreed with you.
They had five commitments prior to the first snap of the season last year including Poole, Johnson, and Wilks. Walls and Abrams-Ward were terrific pick ups late but they were the exception as far as the later commitments went. Every single one of the guys signed in the last class has the chance to be great players. However, with the exceptions of Walls and Abrams-Ward, the rest of the guys who committed late look to be more of projects than immediate threats for playing time. I agree that Poole and Johnson will prove to have been underrated when it's said and done.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/f...
invisiblekid writes:
Yeah sjt18, it's impossible to say anything with ceretainty as far as playing time when you factor in injuries or potential off-field problems. We also have little insight at best as to the work habits of incoming freshmen, that's why I qualified my statement that they could all be great players.
Good point on Bohannon and Hughes but, to be honest, I hope we don't see them this year unless it's mop up duty. I think if either of those guys gets significant PT this year, it'll probably be due to an injury somewhere along the way.
Abrams-Ward offers some size that we don't have in the rest of the WR's at 6'5. With his basketball backround, I could see him as a good red zone threat. As you said though, it depends on where they put him. A switch to LB could result in a RS year but I hope they don't do that.
I think Wilks has potential, but it's a tall ladder to climb to make an impact at WR. It all depends on how he advances but I don't see him doing anything this year other than ST's. Next year will open up with Briscoe and Taylor gone, but Rogers and Hancock will be sr.'s, Jones and Moore will be jr.'s, and Campbell, Maples, and Paige will all be soph.'s. Throw A-W into the mix, and it's hard to see where Wilks gets early playing time at WR unless he really develops.
cobbwebb writes:
CPF IS SUCH A LOVEABLE HUGGABLE TYPE OF GUY, THE KIND U JUST WANT TO PINCH HIS CHEEKS AND WATCH HIS BELLY RUMBLE LIKE A BOWL FULL OF JELLY. WTF CMON I WANT CPF TO BE A MEAN MOTHER CHEWING BUTT ON THE FIELD AND OFF IT ,SNATCHING KIDS UP BY THE FACEMASK KICKING EM IN THE BUTT YELLING AND SCREAMING I LOVE CPF BUT GET TOUGH ON THESE KIDS MAN
pdhuff#552644 writes:
bluetick0710 6:18 - quite a dream. Many of us feel the same way, but until shown otherwise, its just a dream. Stay the course.
We can hope...
chrisw2967 writes:
iam4ua with his family at whitewaters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9EF_G...
Vol13 writes:
Marlon Walls = JUCO or prep school. Likely JUCO.
Montari Hughes = JUCO.
Abrams-Ward and Gerald Williams are DE all the way.
dw0731 writes:
iam4ua, didn't hear get the score of last year's Alabama - LA Monroe game. heard rumors of something worst than the holocaust.
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