MEMPHIS - Standout Mitchell High School junior wide receiver Keiwone Malone said Friday morning he has committed to Alabama.
"It's gonna take a lot of pressure off. I wanted to get into a big school, and, of course, it's in the SEC, the best conference in the nation," said Malone, who committed to the Crimson Tide on Thursday after receiving a visit at Mitchell last week from Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
"I just wanted to get all the pressure off my back and just focus on all my academics."
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Malone, one of five finalists for The Commercial Appeal’s 2008-09 Pepsi Best of the Preps offensive player of the year award, caught 76 balls for a state-best 1,438 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, helping Mitchell to a Class 3A state runner-up finish.
He broke former Westwood High standout Damien Dodson’s state record for receiving yards in a game this season with his 358-yard, three-touchdown receiving performance against Dyersburg in a state quarterfinal game.
Malone said he also had offers from Georgia, Illinois, Ole Miss and Oregon. Tennessee had offered Malone when Phillip Fulmer was still head coach.
Malone said he plans to attend Alabama's Junior Day on Feb. 21. Verbal commitments are non-binding.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 101
HallowedHill writes:
Sounds like a case for Coach O - get him back!
southernson writes:
WE WILL OWN MEMPHIS !!!! I believe emm GO VOLS
appalachianvol writes:
It's a long time till next feb.
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
what was it coach O said- nothing matters but that signed piece of paper.
Maybe Bama will miss out on other WR's because of this kid... and then we can snatch him at the last second.
mbearden#546949 writes:
Let us us listen to your silence.
ALock4UT writes:
I guess we don't like signing good WR's from Memphis...
law_vol writes:
What is wrong with you? Seriously...what is the deal?
Volunteer writes:
Listen to the music, what kind of name is that anyway??
Maybe your parents should have taught you some manners too.... Not nice to judge people on one act... Thats not your job anyway, to judge, is it???
baldfan writes:
Get lost! He has brought swagger back to Knoxville. I'll bet you never said anything when Johnny Majors used to talk a "little smack"!
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
Come February he will be a vol.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lets see-
He wasn't good enuf.
We didn't want him. (apparently)
He didn't fit our plans because we're all set for this fall, so much we may skip spring practice.
You mention our coach, we tell the teacher.
There!
baldfan writes:
"Verbal commitments are non-binding."
Never has so few words gotten the Beast - Coach O - so fired up!
rckymtngator writes:
Kiffen is probably paying him to lie to Alabama so that he can brag about how he dupped Sabin.
Tennessee will be on probation in 2 years.
baldfan writes:
Cry baby Gator fan!
mbearden#546949 writes:
Florida should know....look up Charley Pell
Volunatic writes:
What have you been smoking?
Oh, wait. Now I remember, "Listen to the Music".
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Doobie+B...
Nevermind.
rockytop4ever writes:
why "commit" when we all know he will end up somewhere else? This shouldnt be news.
stinky_pinky writes:
Damien who???
cybervol writes:
Do you really think that these SoCal boys give a rip what Urban, Nick, Steve and Mike Slive think? They've heard the hero worship and they're not impressed. They are here to prove a point. Coach em up! Go VOLS!
jimr07 writes:
apparantly memphis wide receivers do not like signing with us. it has to be a two way street.
utfpmd writes:
WHO CARES? I have prima donna teenager burnout.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Another tennessee player who will be cadillacking down to tuscaloosey.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
Whats that got to do with this post!
spivol writes:
Shame, shame I tell yah. Woah and misery for the rest of our days. The sky is falling. The sky is falling...
You should really lay off the stuff there chicken little.
This is the most positive that I've felt about the program since Fulmer stabbed Johnny in the back. Talk about shameful.
easleychuck writes:
Philip,
Please move on.
Ironcity writes:
US taking him from you next February if we want him will be that much more enjoyable.
TommyJack writes:
Don' talk to the fool. Pity the fool.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
put the curse on him W D
orangevolz writes:
and shame on you for not supporting your coach. Football is not about manners. It is about having a smash-mouth, in your face attitude. If not, everyone else will run over you.
spivol writes:
rammerjammer987,
bama987,
NicksLilSissy987...
Many names, same punka** bummer kid.
Go climb back under your rock slug.
BuckheadVol1 writes:
I am trying to listen to the music but all I hear is S&*@!
VolsAllTheWay writes:
So that is what they paid him, a Cadillac? Make sure he doesn't go over the mileage allowance! Hate to see you on probation, AGAIN..
baldfan writes:
Get him Witch Docter!!!
Rammer Jammer suck my hammer!!!
GreerVol22 writes:
why does everything west of Jackson TN seem like Mobile?
berrymuchavol writes:
im glad we have a coach with some brass.Just dont get carried away with it.I know alot of people like coach O but i remember how much vol fans made fun of him when he was at ole miss.I dont know abouy his recruiting.Sure would like to know what really happened between him and marlon brown.I will say this BERRY will make him wish he was a VOL
DisorientedVol writes:
We have apparently been visited by Nick Montana already. The name says tons but not sure how this gut compares to other quarterbacks for next year.
gohawks1 writes:
I wonder who his head coach will be......
berrymuchavol writes:
We want Phillip Sims
cjraney writes:
Doc, that is some funny sh*t right there.
auttat writes:
Were they supposed to own Memphis overnight? You all do understand that the same coaches that were a month on the job are now a month and 2 days on the job, right?
TommyJack writes:
Good one, I-pee. Dubose may be back in the mix by then.
LDDFC912 writes:
GGGWWWWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! Lane was mean to me! I'm gonna tell Uncle Mike! Regards.... Weiner man and The idiot who recruites the likes of Freddie Kitchens
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
no problem. kiff is only gonna take receivers that fit his program - 6'4 and 220 speed burners!
TIDE29viles9 writes:
ut offered him. he is a four star wr from memphis. so much for lame kittens fence. i cant believe the viles hired a coach that acually made the raiders worse. its looking more and more like al davis isnt crazy. but hey maybe he'll accuse saban of cheating at his next booster club party and then have to apologize. what a joke of a coach and program ut has become in such a short time. lame kitten will never beat alabama on the field or at recruiting. 29-9 ROLL TIDE!!!!! great recruiting class loosers.
TIDE29viles9 writes:
sorry, i meant losers
chad_t31 writes:
"loosers" Are you freakin' kidding me?! Now even the educated bammer fans can spell "losers". You just made any future post of yours worthless.
poppyphil writes:
UT'S head is big with a hard nose coach L. Kiffin,& Lance Thompson, but I think both of them are full of IT!
Bruce_Pearl_Fan writes:
59-20!! That brought shame on our great University.
Home loss to Wyoming!! That brought shame on our great University.
Go get 'em Lane. GO VOLS!
berrymuchavol writes:
i agree but let me ask you of your thoughts of Coach O when he was with ole miss be honest
straightshooter writes:
If the kid wants to commit to anyone this early, he is probably going to go to that school IMO. Why else commit so early. Anyway, its 12 months out so who cares,he could change the school he wants to go to many times by then!! It really isn't worth an article. Next recruiting season's success is all about what the coaching staff does on the field this year. Talk is easy. Action and wins over decent teams on the field speaks volumes!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.