Tennessee has made Marcus Hall’s college decision a difficult one.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, took an official visit to UT this weekend.
Hall said he wasn’t expecting UT to make a big impression when he began his official visit.
That mindset changed after Hall spent time with new UT coach Lane Kiffin and his staff.
“That coaching staff is incredible,” Hall said. “The amount of players going to the NFL from there will probably go way up. I know that for a fact.
“That’s because of the atmosphere Coach Kiffin and coach (Ed Orgeron) is creating around there. They’re really going to change that place.”
That starts with changing UT’s offensive line.
Hall was hosted by redshirt freshman offensive lineman Preston Bailey, who told Hall the Vols are in desperate need of offensive linemen.
That would create an opportunity for Hall to play early.
“That’s exactly what I’m looking for in a school,” Hall said. “When (Bailey) said that it was just words, but when you actually look at the depth chart it’s a fact.
“It’s not just him or the coaches talking. It’s actually there to see.”
Hall might not have seen UT if not for his high school teammate, cornerback Mike Edwards.
Hall said he has very little interest in the Vols until Edwards, who committed to UT last weekend, told Hall about UT and its coaching staff.
“He told me he liked it a lot,” Hall said. “That really showed me something. That’s what really got me interested.”
Hall’s interest now turns to making his college decision.
Hall said he has eliminated Michigan from consideration and will choose among UT, Ohio State and Miami. He said he plans to make his decision on Monday or Tuesday.
Many have believed Ohio State to be the team to beat for Hall.
While Hall admitted it would be tough for a Glenville prospect to turn down Ohio State, he said he’ll choose the school that fits him best.
“It’s my own choice,” Hall said. “I have to live with it in the end. I don’t care what people think or people say because it’s my choice.”
Hall might listen to what Edwards has to say.
Edwards, who said he won’t try to push Hall to UT, would still love to have Hall join him in Knoxville.
“Marcus heading to Tennessee would be so much of a plus,” Edwards said. “I’m not going to talk about that because that’d be a dream come true for me and my boy to come down there.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
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Comments » 16
bloodrunsorange writes:
Great! We need him!
smashmouth98 writes:
Come on Marcus, we need you BADLY!!!!
dcvolfan98 writes:
Come on Marcus. Shock the world. Let's see you in orange and white next year.
12packvolfan writes:
come on down big boy we have a place for u
jsm67vol writes:
Good to hear he had a great visit and is impressed with what he sees from the coaching standpoint. Hope this young man becomes a vol with Edwards. These recruits seem to realize that come spring in knoxville, every player has equal opportunity to compete for playing time. This guy has the size to compete immediately, and he was smart enough to at least come give UT a look with a totally new staff. If you decide to become a vol thats great and welcome Marcus, if not best of luck to you wherever you go.
bigorangejeffy writes:
he'd be a great pickup. anybody ever hear anything new on peter white?
hotrodvol writes:
From the ones who visited this weekend, he's in my top three also, Brown, Patrick, Hall.
VolInSabanLand writes:
Hey... finally some good, (or at least not bad), news. Here's hoping his friend has a lot of pull.
Come on yankee...let us make a good 'ole southern man out of ya. Its would be an honor to have you in orange.
OrangeAppeal writes:
Notice Hooker's name is not on this article.
...Don't be haten'. I'm just sayin'
GreenDevilVol writes:
Hall,Brown,Patrick,Myles,Jeffrey,Richardson,Jackson,and Graves will fill this class with most of our immediate needs. HALL,come on down and get the feel of the Great Smokey Mountains,the Tennessee River,The Vol Navy,The Vol Walk.Besides, we have already named a place after you,Gibbs HALL !!!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Gator guys - I'm not just saying this, but - UT needs this guy and this would be a better need filled than getting Oku at this point. I think if we could get this guy and Marlon, it would go a long way in meeting some of our major needs.
2001_Volunteer writes:
We need this guy. By the way, Je'ron Stokes to Michigan.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Here is some useful information that might help those understand what a coach must consider when recruiting. Good read.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns...
murrayvol writes:
Orlando Pace.
murrayvol writes:
Good link. I found Butch Davis comments on Texas players interesting.
illinoisvolfan writes:
6'5" and 290 lbs. for an offensive lineman in today's game doesn't necessarily translate to slow.
Come on Marcus, your uniform is waiting. Add your name to the list of Ohioian to wear the Orange, such as Peerless Price and Michael Muunoz.
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