Football time in Tennessee means recruiting time in Tennessee.
With preseason camp winding down, coaches and prospects have time to focus on the next phase of their athletic careers: college football.
Official visits, college coaches on the road and commitments (if anybody really does that anymore) will soon be a part of our everyday lexicon.
So here are 10 Tennessee prospects to keep an eye on:
n Tyler Bray: Some have deemed the slender quarterback from Kingsbury (Calif.) High School as a project. Nevertheless, college coaches are ready to start building this 6-foot-6, 185-pounder into their future leader.
Bray is committed to San Diego State. We'll see if that sticks.
n DeMarco Cobbs: One of the top athlete prospects in the country, Cobbs has shown strong interest in the Vols. The feeling is mutual.
The 6-1, 200-pounder would be a great fit in Knoxville as a wide receiver. Several of the top schools in the country are pursuing Cobbs, including Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and LSU.
Notice a strong SEC presence?
n Jeff Luc: Some consider Luc the top linebacker in the nation. A Florida native, the 6-1, 230-pounder should know defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin well.
Luc visited UT for a camp this summer. A number of schools, including Florida, Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Southern California, are in the running.
n David Mahoney: Coaches expect junior college players to play immediately. Mahoney, a 6-2, 285-pound defensive lineman from Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, Calif., appears to have that ability.
Several schools are recruiting Mahoney but UT has the most name recognition.
n Trey Millard: With two upperclassmen competing for playing time at tight end, UT could use a dual-threat star to man the position in the near-future.
Millard, a 6-2, 245-pounder from Rock Bridge High in Columbia, Mo., fits the bill. Millard has said Oklahoma, Iowa and Syracuse are his top three. Can UT get back into the mix?
n Kyle Prater: UT loves big receivers. At 6-5 and 200 pounds, Prater is definitely that.
He's also highly rated; some believe he's the best receiver prospect in the nation.
The star from Proviso West High in Hillside, Ill., seems like he's leaning toward USC but UT won't take that as a final answer.
n Dietrich Riley: Perhaps the next Eric Berry? Well, that might be a bit strong but the safety from St. Francis High School in La Canada, Calif., has talked fondly of UT.
The 6-1, 200-pounder also has family in the Knoxville area. Several schools still have a chance to land Riley. UT needs to surge to the top.
n Lache Seastrunk: It's hard to imagine UT getting the top-rated tailback in the nation for two consecutive years but I'm told UT has as good a shot as any school.
How will the 5-11, 190-pounder from Temple (Texas) High School view UT's freshman tailbacks if they have success this season? More competition or every newcomer gets a shot? We'll see.
n James Stone: The Vols need offensive linemen and there's a great one in UT's backyard. Stone, a 6-5, 300-pounder from Maplewood High, may be UT's most coveted in-state target.
Another Quarterback: What would Jesse Scroggins think if Matt Barkley nails down the starting job at Southern California? Will Barry Brunetti have second thoughts about his West Virginia commitment?
Something tells me there will be an abrupt twist or two in UT's recruitment of its next quarterback.
Dave Hooker can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 30
DooleyNoted writes:
James Stone is at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville not Maplewood.
txvolsfan writes:
Not a very earth shattering article?? This stuff has been out for weeks!!!
iowavol writes:
There is a lot of time between now and signing day. Just win baby! that will bring the so called commitments our way.
Joevolsxtra writes:
C'mon Hook. This is getting ridiculous.
andy112382#209793 writes:
These newsbits may have been out for a little while, bit I still appreciate the listing so it is all in one place, beats going 'now wait, where did I read that two weeks ago???', nice recap.
chaos001 writes:
um, Stone goes to Maplewood. he's been there all 4 years, iirc.
hotrodvol writes:
Bray, Cobbs, Riley, and Stone are our best chances of the prospects listed. Prater will be a Trojan. Luc would be my top choice out of all these players, but everyone says he will not leave the state of Florida. Has anyone got an oppinion of Mahoney, does UT lead for him, have they offered?
VolunteerMan writes:
James Stone is not at MBA.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I suggest anyone who wants real recruiting news go elsewhere. There are only 4 players on this list who might end up at UT (Riley, Bray, Cobbs, Stone). Dave Hooker is better at just talking UT football; he's not cut out for recruiting.
Seastrunk doesn't even have UT in his top 8. Luc only has us in his top 10-12 right now. Prater is an obvious USC commit. And 2 of the players on this list aren't even worth talking about because they aren't elite prospects (Mahoney / Millard). Hooker could have easily replaced those two with George Uko, Brandon Willis, Christian Bryant, Chuckie Curry, etc. All of these players are high profile and very high on UT.
stroker writes:
We don't all read about the VOls on other sites,so it was news to me. Thanks Dave.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Yeah, really. I get some good info elsewhere, but no need to knock the guy for this info. Some are not die-hard fans and may only passively check out recruiting. This is for them. Thanks Dave.
richvol writes:
Luc and Prater are the two best prospects on this list...both could be all-americans if they stay healthy. The Bray kid looks like he could be a good one from the film I saw. He has a big arm and is quick for 6'6"...he just needs to gain strength through weight training. Good footwork as well.
TommyJack writes:
Why all the knocks on Hooker? He's ok. (except for that $8 haircut)
rich182x writes:
You guys are brutal! And I really am drunk this time.
CT_VOL writes:
The knocks are simple to explain: Hooker seldom adds any new information and/or insight. Just as important, his fact-checking is horrible. There are multiple errors in the above article, as usual.
Frank
givehim6 writes:
One thing good, this time last year kids like the ones listed, and the ones already committed would have not been looking at UT.
ThurmondEppy writes:
At 9:18am on a Sunday??? I'm not sure whether to express admiration or fear!
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Those of you pounding on Hooker need to take a deep breath, relax, and maybe consider a switch to decaf. You're taking this entirely to seriously.
Not all of us are jock-sniffers who subscribe to three or four recruiting websites. I thought this was a well-written piece on a few prospects who IN THE WRITER'S OPINION are some to watch.
RollTideJoe writes:
No, James Stone is at Maplewood.
eleven99ers writes:
If you lead off with our biggest need, a QB, could we please list Bray's hometown correctly. He is from Kingsburg, not Kingsbury. Small town guys tend to get offended when you don't even get the name of their town right.
You got this wrong the last time you wrote about him and I correctred you. Lack of professionalism you did it again.
NTNSTY writes:
Hook spends $8 on haircuts?!? I cut my own. I agree with TJ, what's with all the Hook-hatin'? I sensed a little "Groupthink" going on with those first set of responses. We're with you Hooker!
OrangeAppeal writes:
Things of note:
n I hope we land Prater
n The best bet for landing recruits is for the new coaches to prove themselves with some key wins
n You don't proof-read your posts
n The "n's" look amateur
miamiVOL writes:
Jeff Luc has committed to FSU
Lache Seastrunk is LSU or TX all the way
K.Prater is all 'SC
J.Stone has Bama as a slight lead oer TN, he is a project imo
Voluvr writes:
wrong.
RJ_Vol writes:
"Another Quarterback: What would Jesse Scroggins think if Matt Barkley nails down the starting job at Southern California?"
Scroggins would sit minimum three years, possibly four, if the likely scenario of Barkley getting the job happens. Scroggins has to be wondering if he can play wide receiver about now...
volsoutwest writes:
humm, correctred???
UTVolsFan7 writes:
Ray Drew
Weakside DE
Thomasville (GA) Thomas County Central
Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 236 lbs
Class: 2011 (High School)
This guy is sick and Tennessee needs to get started recruiting him. Ray already has offers from Florida and Florida State.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How did that work out last week when you convinced Dupree that the 8 year old Ex-Lax bar from the garage was really chocolate?
ColeTrickle writes:
man this site has gone down the crapper. most you all sound like a bunch of b!tchy old ladies. the spell check nazis need to get a life. i am outa here.
byobbio writes:
Left me off the list. You guys are right, Hooker sucks.
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