Athlete Marsalis Teague from Henry County High School in Paris, Tenn., has received a scholarship offer from Tennessee.
Teague's teammate, fullback Dominique Allen, committed to the Vols on April 19. Teague got his offer Monday.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Teague said he was happy to hear UT tight ends coach Jason Michael extend the scholarship offer.
"I really didn't know what to say," Teague said. "I was kind of at a loss for words. I told him (Michael), 'Thank you,' and said I still have to think through everything and do what's best for me."
Teague has plenty of options to consider. He has scholarship offers from Miami, Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Memphis.
Teague said he plans to visit as many schools as possible this summer.
He said he hopes to choose a school before his senior season begins, but he wants to be certain before he makes a commitment.
"Even if I feel like I'm not completely sure I won't make a decision," he said. "I'll prolong it until I know I'm 100 percent sure what I want to do.
"This is a big decision. I can't have doubts about where I want to go."
Teague has no doubts about where people in his community want him to go.
With Allen committed to UT, Teague said many will expect him to follow his friend to Knoxville.
Teague said UT may eventually be his choice, but he doesn't want to rush his decision.
"There are a lot of options out there with different schools that have different things to offer," he said. "I have to be open minded to see what the schools have to offer. If I do feel like Tennessee is the right place that's where I'll be."
Teague said it would feel right to continue his playing career with Allen.
Teague and Allen are close friends and have played together since their Pop Warner days.
"It would kind of feel funny if we branch out and go separate ways," Teague said. "When we started going through recruiting we said we'd go to the same school if we can.
"It's possible we'll play together but it might not definitely happen. If it does happen, it'd be great."
Allen said he's hopeful Teague will join him at UT.
"It'd be great," Allen said. "We've played so much ball together.
"We've got so much in common. We can relate to each other on so much."
Teague said he'll look for a coaching staff he can relate to while he compares his schools.
He said he can be comforted by Phillip Fulmer's long tenure at UT.
"Coach Fulmer has been there a long time," Teague said. "I look at the success they've had since he's been there. They've been one of the winningest programs in college football."
Teague said UT's coaches have discussed the possibility of him playing cornerback, safety or receiver, as well as helping in the kick-return game.
Teague said he has no preference.
"Whatever helps the team," he said. "I'll help where there's a need. That's what I'm all for."
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
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Comments » 62
bcbobcat82 writes:
Whats up with all of this IN-STATE LOVE? Shouldn.t we be going to Egypt and Bulgaria looking for recruits? I just don't know about us getting these Local Boys on our team??? GO VOLS!!!! DESTROY THE BRUINS!!!!!!!
superk#226173 writes:
What's up with the instate love? I'd say what's up with the ACC love? Why are we offering guys that only hold offers from the ACC? I trust Fulmer on these though. He has seen more talent than me.
Orangebrewbasher writes:
yeah that's strange almost everyone from the ACC has made an offer for this guy and no one in the SEC has offered a scholarship except Vanderbilt. But if he can run and catch then I hope he signs.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
If North Carolina offered, we should take him if we can get him. Some may not have noticed, but Butch Davis is the real deal. He is determined to get NC back to respectability. GT is on this same path.
35th last year told me where our recruiting is currently. Lets all hope the new faces can step it up back to the days of Rodney G who is currently pumping them into Jawga. Once again, its an offensive player.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
What's this all about? I though that we didn't have any instate talent?
jimr07 writes:
workin--no one said we not have ANY instate talent just not very much of it.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Not much of it? From 2002 to 2008, we have had 206 Division I signees from Tennessee. That's more than Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Washington, Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraksa, Iowa, Arizona, Indiana, New York, Colorado, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, and West Virginia. Not too far behind Mississippi and South Carolina.
That's about 30 per year. Also, from this 206, we've had 8 5 stars which is more than South Carolina, NJ, Alabama, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the same as Illinois. 41 of these were 4 star players which is pretty close to these same group of states.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Your source? Also, it is common knowledge that West Tennessee has little to no "loyalty" or "connection" to Knoxville. Might as well be another state altogether. What percentage of these 206 were from that third of the state?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
rivals.com...don't know the breakdown of what area of the state they come from though. West Tennessee has a ton of Tennessee fans until you get to Memphis which is pretty much a free for all but we have as good of shot as any of the other schools going in there and getting guys except maybe Ole Miss but you can't really compare the Ole Miss and Tennessee's programs right any way.
midgetangel#279179 writes:
I don't care where he comes from. Can he play? 170 seems a little light but I'm sure he'll pack on a few lbs.
maholt49#632667 writes:
With the NCAA looking at our graduation rates in all sports...maybe, just maybe we're offering because they can play, AND make the grades to graduate!!!! The rate we are going the NCAA will be taking scholarships away from us left and right.
tigervol9802 writes:
Can we beef him up to play D-tackle?
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Workin.
That isn't a very specific source. Do you have a link that breaks down all of this information with specific data, or do you expect us to believe that you took the time to calculate it all yourself? You named an awful lot of states. I'm not saying rivals doesn't break it down like that, but I haven't seen it.
volchiq writes:
maholt, to give the football program a little credit, they met the academic standards.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
volfaninlsauland, a guy on Volquest posts this information on one of the message board indexes. Someone else with a membership can verify the information I posted if you can't access the site:
http://tennessee.rivals.com/showmsg.a...
Otherwise, you'll just have to take my word for it. I really don't have a reason to make this up. The guy that posts the information is reliable.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
State by state breakdown:
http://tennessee.rivals.com/showmsg.a...
givehim6 writes:
UT offered him a scholarship and he's not a sr. yet, someone sees somthing special in this young man. I do not blame him for taking his time, that just means he is being smart and jumping on the train just to be with his friend, He waints to look before he jumps. I hope in the end UT will be his home. GO VOLS!
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks for the links Workin', those are some interesting stats.
invisiblekid writes:
PD, good point about UNC and Davis. One correction though, Teague is listed as an "athlete", not an offensive player. Thus, he could be switched to defensive tackle.
Volunatic writes:
At 5'11, 170 lbs, I sure hope they aren't considering him at DT. CB, maybe.
GO VOLS!!! Beat UCLA!
jimr07 writes:
workin--i would sure like to see that in writing from source other than you. not that i do not believe you, well, really i don't, you would say anything to trash fulmer
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
jimr, that's your deal. I guess you'll have to sit and wonder or just sign up for a free 7 day trial and Volquest and follow the links and see the data yourself. Anybody that has an account can follow the links and can tell you the same info that I provided.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
I see Vols72's posts consist of nothing but namecalling. I am glad I inspired this moron to pop his message board cherry by signing up for an account on GVE today to call me a loser and others names. By my count 4 of his 6 posts have been about me. This is awesome.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Ikid, 4:12 tks for the input on our new 170lb DT possibility. I know Chief likes em' quick on their feet and agile and very blockable. He should do fine. We should be seeing the "roid" truck pretty soon. LOL
volroadwarrior writes:
Imagine this kid and others liking Fulmer and the long term stability of the program. Don't these recruits know that Fulmer should be fired? They should listen to some of the geniuses that post on this forum calling for his head.
Vol13 writes:
For everyone dissing Workin' for trying to shed some FACTUAL information on recruiting, here's a thought - if you doubt him, then get off your lazy duffs and compile some of your own statistics to refute what he is saying. I've seen the same information posted multiple times on multiple Vol fan boards and I also have known the gentlemen who authored those stats for several years personally. Why don't you all go log on to Volquest and tell him since he spent hours on end putting all of that information together for your knowledge base that you made a decision in about 3 seconds and without lifting a finger on your own to choose to not believe it. Unreal.
Otherwise, shut your pie holes.
kceltic#232917 writes:
vol_in_lsu_land: I don't know the number of kids out of West Tennessee that end up in Knoxville, but we have had quite a bit of quality players come from West Tennessee. Examples: Chad Clifton, Justin Harrell, Al Wilson, Will Offenheusle, Jabari Greer, Chris Donald, the Cottam brothers, etc. These are just recent players. Don't look so much at numbers as at the quality of the athletes that come from West Tennessee. You mention "loyalty"-there are plenty of high school players that would love to play at UT, but they're not offered or recruited. Patrick Willis was one that wanted to go to UT but we didn't offer (and he ended up in the NFL as a first-round draft pick). Most kids in West Tennessee would love to play for UT, but for whatever reason, they end up at other schools because UT doesn't offer them.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I'm not gonna go crying on my keyboard for the mistreatment of Workin here, but the guy actually didn't say anything negative or try to make this about coaching. Personally, I'm amazed and appreciative.
I think this guy will shop around and end up signing with us. I hope so anyway. Come on Teague, you know you want to don the Big Orange!
hglover40#234154 writes:
More numbers from rivals team rankings by state -
2003 - 2008 the state of Tennessee had 96 3 star or better recruits. 32 of them went to UT.
The State may have the 206 division 1 signees since 2002, but this list tells me over 1/2 of them are 2* or less.
2008 - 5 * = 0
4 * = 4 (1 signed with UT)
3 * = 12 (3 signed with UT)
2007 5 * = 1 (1 signed with UT)
4 * = 9 (3 signed with UT)
3 * = 15 (6 signed with UT)
2006 5 * = 1
4 * = 2 (1 signed with UT)
3 * = 16 (3 signed with UT)
2005 5 * = 1
4 * = 3 (3 signed with UT)
3 * = 8 (5 signed with UT)
2004 5 * = 0
4 * = 2 (2 signed with UT)
3 * = 7 (1 signed with UT)
2003 5 * = 0
4 * = 5 (2 signed with UT)
3 * = 7 (1 signed with UT)
hglover40#234154 writes:
Correction to my last post; it should read - rivals prospect ranking by state - NOT rivals team ranking by state.
hglover40#234154 writes:
State Of Florida 2008 - 5 * = 5
4 * = 43
2007 5 * = 3
4 * = 37
2006 5 * = 3
4 * = 47
State of Georgia 2008 5 * = 2
4 * = 20
2007 5 * = 2
4 * = 18
2006 5 * = 1
4 * = 17
I didn't list 3*; to many to count. I think any resonable person can see that our biggest rivals have much more in state talent than us. Most years they have more 4* players than we do 3*. If CPF didn't recruit from everywhere we couldn't compete in the SEC.
Bigger_Al writes:
ACC has edged out the SEC in NFL 1st rounders over the past few years. Much of that is due to Miami and FSU, but Miami is one of his offers.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I don't care if he's from frogsa$$ montana if he can play ball. Long gone are the days of a football team being almost all from 'in-state'.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
While it is true that some great players have come to UT from all over the state, I still believe that the greatest talent pool in our state comes from the western half, and that we lose a lot of those players to Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and many other rivals because the "homer" factor isn't as strong. Let's face it, Tennessee suffers from its own geographic nature. OTOH, Vandy and Memphis aren't stellar programs and don't offer a lot of in-state competition for the best players in the state (like Bama/Auburn or Virginia/Virginia Tech does)
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Morning sjt18-Sometimes you have to do something with these 2*-3* 4* players when you get them. I think the true test of a coach is -- Are they truly better skill-wise than when they 1st arrived?
The answer would be subjective somewhat akin to the Championship Banners they hang or don't hang and moreso do they get the sheepskin?
And my standard, how many outings did they have where they didn't compete and looked totally lost?
Up and down effort is the coaches responsibility.
Its called motivation, even at $38,00.00 per week.
$38K would keep me motivated.
The sign says "I will give my all for Tennessee today". We should expect NO less, ever.
richvol writes:
"Down to 37 DB's" that's unfortunately true Kingsportvol. We offer and sign too many 5'8" to 5'11" kids that weigh 170lbs every year. There's a ton of them on the team already.
We should be focused on offering 30 or so 6'3" to 6'6" kids that weigh 250 or above a free ride. The reports that we get indicate that we offer 8 or 9 a year. You get what you focus on and that's where our aim needs to be. There are at least 100 of these size kids in every graduating class and those are the ones that we need to get and develop.
Football is a game that's won in the trenches... period.
Vol13 writes:
Disturbing that a 2* or 3* prospect tells you they will "think about it" when you are State U, they have no other SEC offers except Vandy, and they have a teammate and friend already committed to you. Wasn't too long ago that a kid such as this would have given their left arm to be offered by UT. Now, they aren't even committing on the spot.
volboy81#211803 writes:
Vol in LSU Land: West Tennessee is VERY loyal to UT!!! They just dont get the credit for it since theyre so far away!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
richvol 7:19am- That's been my mantra for 25 years. Offense sells tickets, defense wins games.
It seems every article is about another offensive player. There are a few of us who get just as big a kick out of a sack or slobberknocker tackle as most do from a 4 yard out. A 13 of 17 stat for 61 yards doesn't do much for me.
Defensive tackles control the game. Mediocre ones means you're getting run over. They're just not glamorus. We don't appear to have them. Good post.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
sjt, first off no one is insinuating that we have as much instate talent as our biggest rivals. My post was merely stating some facts that we do have talent in the state of Tennessee when people claim that we have none. Sorry that you believe that this is "pure nonsense".
The 06 class had alot of talent and finished top 5 in the country and had 11 guys from in state. Nobody is saying that we can rely alone on instate talent. Over this same time period, we are 11th (ahead of Vandy) in regards to the # of signees that come from instate, meaning that we sign less of our talent from instate than most other SEC schools. I think about 30% or about 44 players of our signing class from 02-07 came from Tennessee. There were 81 other guys that signed with other SEC schools over this same time period. The guy who compiled the numbers said that over this time period 208 players from the state of Tennessee signed with BCS schools. There have been years where we have signed like 1, 2, and 3 players from instate and teams like Auburn and Nebraska signed more Tennessee players than Tennessee has.
thesavageorange writes:
Teague will most likely end up a Vol.Our biggest competition will be Miami.He grew up a huge fan of the Canes, but doesn't really want to get that far away from his family.
Problem w/ DT's is most are staying in-state.Out of all the top 250 DT's only 1 out of about 7 commited so far have commited out of state, Tyler Stockton of NJ to Notre Dame.In Tennessee there is only 3 DT's garnering any attention from BCS conference schools.None have offers ,and only 1 is not undersized, Curtis King at 6'3 270lbs.
King would commit now,IMO, if the Vols offered.We need to sign about 5-6 DT's in my opinion so I don't know why they haven't.
On a positive note:If Montori Hughes scores well enough on his entrance exam, he will enroll in July.
Hughes:"I love playing football. I've played all my life. I just love the intensity of football. I get hyped up when I play football. There's something about me, I just love it. I love going out there having fun, hitting people. I mean, I've laid hits on the quarterback. I broke a quarterback's helmet. That was my favorite hit. It was against Oakland. Sonny Gray (Smyrna's All-State quarterback), that was a good hit against him. It took him a couple seconds to get up."
hglover40#234154 writes:
Workin...
Where is he pulling those numbers? 208 players from Tennessee signing with BCS schools seems high to me. I looked at rivals rankings by state and counted only 96 3* or better recruits from TN. That is 96 from 2003 - 2008. I can't beleive BCS schools are signing 2* players from TN.
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, regarding your 7:11 post, I agree that Fulmer has ventured away from the course on the offensive side of the ball. However, it could be argued that this was by necessity as much as an open willingness to do it. There weren't that many former Vol offensive coordinators left out there for him to snatch up. And we both know that offense hasn't been the main culprit to any shortcomings in the team the past couple of years. The chuck and duck may not have been glamorous, but, more often than not,it put points on the board. It was the defense that has been giving up historically bad numbers and I hope the lack of change on that side of the ball proves to be the right move.
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks for the update on Hughes SavageO. In lieu of All-SEC caliber players at DT, maybe the Vols can muster up enough bodies to wear the other teams down.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
glover, I don't know. I though it sounded high and the went back and looked and only found about 154 guys from the 2002 through 2008 signing classes. But he only has 2 star players listed from the 08 class for whatever reason. It's not like there were no 2 star players from 02 to 08 in Tennessee. Guys like Jason Hall and Bo Hardegree that were 2 stars are not part of the 154 that I was able to count. There were 11 2 star players this past year that signed with BCS schools.
thesavageorange writes:
invisiblekid , No problem.I think he is going to be a pleasant surprise.He's big, he's mean, he's relentless.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
savageorange 4:20 -Big, mean, relentless, are you speaking of TDTN or Dupree?
thesavageorange writes:
pdhuff ,Both!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
What good thing about GVXTra is if you sneeze, someone will tell you the ratio of your age group posibilites. (SIC)?
We all love the Orange, but some among us can explain away Fla and Bama last year. SEC East trophy still hasn't arrived. Some of us are stuck hard in the lack of effort, not as much the lack of talent.
But what do we know, we're either blindly happy or (per sjt18) not forgiving enuf of Phil's $38,000.00 per week results. Tenth year, 10th--- approaches!
We go forth to battle on Sept 1. That is a fact. The results will either be in CPF's crown or in the bunker with him. Incomin"!
That, too, is also a fact.
Go Vols!
thesavageorange writes:
sjt18, I don't think Sentimore is a longshot.I have read every update on him and one thing always comes up.Playing time.I personally think LSU is our biggest competition for the 4*.We were one of the first to offer, and he seemed pretty flattered.Here is what he said about LSU:
If I do get an offer I will definitely consider LSU, but I mean it would be hard to break into the starting lineup there because their depth (on the defensive line) is large. If the offer does come from LSU don't get me wrong, they are definitely in the mix."
I am wondering if King has academic issues at this point.I do think our next best shot is Chris Bonds from SC.After that it's probably Corey Adams of AZ.Adkins is working very hard on him.
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