There hasn’t been a junior in the state receiving more recruiting momentum in the past month than Will Jackson. The Farragut High School offensive lineman has picked up scholarship offers from West Virginia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Middle Tennessee State.
Auburn has also shown strong interest and could be close to offering.
“They started coming on pretty hard,” Jackson said. “They want to see me in person.”
Then, there’s Alabama.
“Alabama has really come on within the past week,” said Jackson, who was scheduled to visit Georgia Tech and Alabama during the weekend. “They’ve been talking to me a good bit lately.”
As for Tennessee, the Vols just started boarding the bandwagon.
“I guess they’d gotten wind of the others and they started calling,” Jackson said.
Jackson toured UT’s campus last week, where he watched some workouts and met with Dan Brooks, who is the lead recruiter in East Tennessee.
At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, Jackson isn’t as big as some of the big-name offensive line prospects. That, however, could work in his favor. As more teams convert to the spread option offense, quicker offensive linemen are en vogue, if not absolutely necessary.
“I think he’s a great blend of size, strength and speed,” Farragut offensive line coach Russ Partin said. “He’s got tremendous feet, plays extremely hard and intimidates people.”
Jackson said he attended UT games growing up in Knoxville but wouldn’t describe himself as a “diehard” fan. He said most of his father’s side of the family are Alabama fans.
Farragut coaches are certain that Jackson benefited from former teammate Andre Sterling, the record-setting tailback who signed with Ole Miss in February. Every time college recruiters saw Sterling run on a highlight tape, they saw Jackson blocking.
“I owe him a lot of credit for getting me some exposure,” Jackson 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 » 37
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
brownsville,
You seem quite certain.
You seem quite certain.
You seem quite certain.
TommyJack writes:
brownsville: How do you know, know, know?
Vol13 writes:
This is further proof that the Vols are slipping back into being an afterthought in the SEC. This reminds me of the pre-Fulmer era at UT when Antonio London, Jeremy Nunley, Clay Whitehurst, and a host of other in-state talent would sign elsewhere. Most signed with Bama at the time because they were the marquee SEC team. But now our in-state players are signing with Bama and other teams that are perceived by today's youth to be Top 10 programs.
Here's another example of our coaching staff getting outworked in recruiting (see 2006 and 2008 signing classes for further proof). Only this time, it's right in their own county.
Ya'll keep trusting Fulmer though. I'm sure he knows what he's doing. There's probably a legitimate reason that a dozen other teams around the country knew about this kid and UT didn't. LOL!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Are there any DT's at Farragut? Even those offered by Furman and Eastern Ky or Samford?
I just checked the cupboard and it is.......
bigbluevol writes:
Vol13, I don't know if you read the articles about junior day but this staff is actually well ahead of where they have been in the past in recruiting. They can't recruit everyone, nor should they. Fulmer has shown he knows how to evaluate talent. You can get all worried and upset about 2 years (the 05 and 07 classes were very highly rated, but don't mention them as it undermines your argument), but the long haul is in Fulmer's favor.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True, bigbluevole, 15 years has been a long haul.
Basketball_Jones writes:
I think its funny how the kid plays 15 miles from campus and Ut is just now hearing about him. I think Fulmer just tries to see who Saban is recruiting then thinks he may be a hot commodity
Vol13 writes:
bigblue:
If you think that the 2005 and 2007 classes are going to haul the mail and that we're going to get a free pass in the SEC due to 2006 and 2008 - you are in for a big surprise. You can put together a mock roster for 2009 and 2010 and see that the talent level is dropping off considerably. So Fulmer (if still here) had better pull out a magic wand and sign about 50 Eric Berry's between this year and next. Only problem with that is that I believe we only have 16-18 ships to offer in 2009. And every one of them need to be a home run. You have to consider that Tennessee last won a title when the 2009 signees were in First Grade and 7 years old.
givehim6 writes:
Unfortunately first impressions last. That's why I think it's important to get a schools name out in kids minds early. I'm afraid sabins trying to hit us in our own back yard.
jimr07 writes:
it is always such a comfort to log on here and see all the positive comments about our recruiting. way to go gang.
BOASoldier writes:
OK and the title comment means what in this argument... Alabubba had a great recruiting class and they haven't won a NC since 92 only two of their "12" have been unanimous and their last SEC was in 99. so once again what does the title comment prove?
jimr07 writes:
And now there's a much more serious story: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Pryor was one of many players involved in a fight after a Pennsylvania high school basketball playoff game yesterday between his Jeannette High School and North Catholic High School.
jimr07 writes:
Josh Jarboe, an Oklahoma wide receiver recruit who was considered one of the top high school players in the country, is facing two felony charges in his home state of Georgia.
jimr07 writes:
Virginia cornerback Mike Brown is facing charges of grand larceny, possession of stolen property with intent to sell, altering serial numbers and possession of marijuana stemming from an incident last month in which items were stolen from a car parked in a garage on campus.
jimr07 writes:
South Carolina offensive lineman Kevin Young is facing two misdemeanor charges after he was arrested Sunday.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
How old were these recruits when we went to the SECCG and gave the national champs all they could handle? Or the time before that when we went and played a vastly superior undefeated Auburn team with a TWO 1st rnd RBs and QB?
Just curious.
And when was the last time Notre Dame won anything? Even a bowl game? They've had two pretty good classes.
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
This kid's family has contacted Saban and I'm sure sent him a tape or went to camp there. He wants to go there but is wanting TN to be interested just in case AL doesn't offer. Let's not get bent out of shape about it. His father's side of the family obviously has no class if they are Bama fans so let him go there.
bigbluevol writes:
Vol13, I'm glad that we have fans with all this insider talent evaluation ability. The 2009 and 2010 rosters will still contain Berry, Vinson, Rogan, Creer, Paige, Morley (09), G Jones, Moore, etc. You're trying to use 2 years as proof that the program is on a decline. There are a lot of reasons that both of us could list to make our point. The bottom line is no one knows how the kids will perform until they're playing. Saban has had one recruiting class ranked number one at Bama and they have yet to play a game. Let's see how it all shakes out before we start trumpeting the decline of the entire football program. You choose to see the future as bleak, I see it as loaded with much potential for promise. We'll see. Until then, just watch, root for the kids, the coaches and the program and enjoy.
bigbluevol writes:
One other thing: does anyone actually know anything about this kid, other than who is recruiting him? Since he's only a few miles from the program, don't you think they've seen him a lot? For whatever reason, we didn't pursue Andre Sterling. I have never seen him play, but the staff had reservations. Maybe they felt that way about this kid. We don't know. Maybe they dropped the ball early on him while they were evaluating other players. Maybe he's a backup target. There are a lot of possibilities. I, for one, don't want to recruit a kid just because other people are. Let's recruit him because he is a talented player who fits with what it is we want to do.
GoVol writes:
If he's not a 'die hard' Vol (he admits this), and likes Bama better, please let go to Bama. We only want/need players that want to play for UT...it's a privledge to wear the orange.
jimr07 writes:
bigbluevol----a-men
newtonrail writes:
This defending or bashing Fulmer has gotten nuts. There is nothing in this article that says Tenn just found out about this young man. Jackson says " they've gotten wind of the others and just started calling". That's a young man giving a flippant answer to the press that barely talks to KNS anymore. He was up there on Junior Day with a couple of hundred others I saw boiling out of Neyland Sports Complex before BB game. Tenn, like all schools subscribes to rating services of rising juniors and some younger than that. Sometimes coaches or players send out tapes of themselves, but most get the ball started from the services they subscribe to and follow up. I wish everyone would dig a little deeper before firing of digs at our Coaching staff or Gushing praise for that matter. It's like Colliervol likes to say, you are going to have Fulmer whether you want him or not.
cjraney writes:
VOL13, I don't think this article about a high school JR is "proof" of anything.
Ironcity writes:
If we offered the Vol13 would complain that we were competing with MTSU instead of LSU.
BallantyneVol writes:
I wish all you losers would realize that recruiting in the SEC is all about momentum. Of course Saban's going to recruit well initially even in Tennessee. The programs fine and if you need proof we won 10 games last year with our worst defense in years and a bunch of slow wideouts... calm down!!!!
TommyJack writes:
losers?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Gen Fritter has a chance to hold up the Fulmer Cup this year. At a private function, of course.
Insiders only.
jasvol writes:
Gen. Fritter: I saw Fulmer hold up the 'Cracker Barrel' Cup yesterday, right after hoisting the Sears Cup.
dfreeman writes:
I think the telling thing is that most teams are looking for a player of his size to fit more of the spread option!! We aren't a spread option team.... thank God!! When we have tried that we've bungled it horribly!! If we aren't running the spread option do we really want an O-line prospect that's 280lbs??
skroutyboy writes:
I want kids that want to come play for Tennessee--I don't care where they come from. Here's an interesting anecdote: I was a student at U.T. and one of my best friends made the statement that he felt that kids that were from Tennessee would play harder because it was their home state. I really didn't buy into that. I asked a friend of mine who was a player for the Vols and a Tennessee native. He scoffed at that statement. He said the guys that were on the team played hard for us and it didn't matter where they were from. They played for Tennessee. Remember folks, if we had to rely on Tennessee high school talent, we would lag far behind on the recruiting front, this year notwithstanding. We simply do not have the numbers to provide the athletes we have to have to win. So, in closing, if a young man from Tennessee does not want to come to our university and be a true Tennessee Volunteer, Godspeed to him to go somewhere else. I do not wish ill will on him at all. I just want young men who, as the sign says in the locker room will "give their all for Tennessee today." And that's it.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
dfreeman..Are you telling me that the Clausen boys weren't natural scat backs?
dfreeman writes:
They were an exception not the rule!! HAHAHAHAHA They could have been in the wishbone if they played together!! LOL The killer C's!!
utmdm writes:
dfreeman, I think you nailed this one before I posted. He is considered a spread option prospect at this point.
I am no blind Fulmer lover but guys, CPF has a brain, knows how to evaluate talent and has for years. The knock has been coaching. The next 2 years will tell the tale. Hopefully, his choice on assistants will take care of the coaching while he focuses on what he does best - the exec duties and recruiting.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
utmdm - burning the midnight oil again, I see.
Do you think a 7-5 buys ol' Phillip another year? Or would Thornton & co make the call to Mikey? Just conjecture, but when the dreaded "enuf" call comes, the dominoes start to fall. Have you seen any DTs around Roaring River or Hwy 56 or Hwy 53?
What would a Haynesworth be valued at?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Agreed sjt18.
posivol writes:
3 teams stand a shot at taking us down,aub,fla and ga.---all the rest will fail.
auburns a pick game
Gators are due for a beatdown and playing at home,i like our odds!
dogs will be heavy favored (as usual)hopefully we can continue to lay the smackdown on em.
fricks56 writes:
Well i really really really think william is going to THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA!
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