Greg King knows where he’ll play his college football; but he’s not ready to let the world in on the secret.
Pssst. Tennessee fans should be pretty excited.
“I’ve got it in my head,” said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker from Melrose High School in Memphis. “On Signing Day, everybody will know. I know where I’m going.”
And what did King think of UT as he drove home Sunday from his official visit in Knoxville?
“They’re in good shape,” he said.
Maybe even perfect shape. King said the visit had an “extremely” strong effect on his decision.
“It was wonderful, wonderful,” King said. “I had a blast, a real blast.”
King claimed he didn’t commit (even silently) to UT this weekend. Yet he said he loved everything about his visit, especially the Vols’ recently completed coaching staff.
“Tennessee has the best coaching staff right now, I can tell you that,” King said. “They’re great coaches.”
King traveled to Knoxville with his family, who he said also was impressed.
“Man, I had such a ball, me, my mom and my grandma,” King said. “It just impressed me a whole lot. We enjoyed ourselves.”
Even though UT is in control, the battle isn’t over. King still will take official visits to Miami (Jan. 23) and Arkansas (Jan. 30), and also is considering Texas Tech, where he visited last month.
Before his visit to Knoxville this weekend, King said that UT and Texas Tech were the top two teams he was considering.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 107
volfan_brian writes:
GOOD! Cautiously optimistic on King! Still too many visits left to become overjoyed! But according to this, I like our chances.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We can hope.
Good luck, young man, where ever you wind up.
TNfaninMS writes:
HE IS A VOL!!!! COUNT ON IT!!!!!!!!!
vol43 writes:
Sounds good. Love to see this guy wearing orange! Go Vols!
IPOrange writes:
Don't mean to be too negative here, but how does "I know where I’m going” and "King said he didn’t commit (even silently) to UT this weekend" translate into good news?
MemphisVol1485 writes:
I have seen him in person and he will a beast in the tampa 2. He can move laterally just as fast as anyone in the sec. GO VOLS!!!!
Ringside writes:
It would be great to see you run through the 'T' next fall.
invisiblekid writes:
Hope he is saying the same things on NSD in a few weeks. His highlights are very impressive IMO, wraps up with both arms, good motor, and relentless. Learning under a defensive legend like Kiffin can only help.
vol43 writes:
I think nowadays these high profile players love to play it up and make their earth-shaking announcement on signing day, and that's okay. It's the comments he made about the Tennessee coaches that make me think he's in.
cainclifton23 writes:
I definatley think were gonna get him, we need better LBs..
or we can always stick with.... Nick Reveis :[
mpm80#1357758 writes:
stay in state young man
FlaVol2 writes:
I Hope he becomes a Vol.
Navalorange writes:
It would be great to have this young man at Tennessee. Come on in, the water is fine.
PoochPuntOn3rdDown writes:
He's on board. Go Vols!
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
Sounds Good
1vol writes:
I know that it sounds good,but it just wears my nerves out.I think I'll need a valium the size of a wagon wheel before signing day.
cainclifton23 writes:
Inside a day of Tennessee Recruiting
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/i...
READ!
Agent_Orange writes:
Very mature of him to toy with everyone's emotions. Come on, kid, you've made up your mind, so get off the pot!
1vol writes:
I wish they would tell what Pearlie Graves thought.It's on volquest but I don't have a premium ticket.
MrBamSeydu writes:
So you "know" where you're going, but yet you're taking 2 more visits? I don't understand kids these days.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Even if he's made up his mind to sign with the Vols, I can understand his wanting to take his Mom and Grandmother on a free trip to Miami, but ARKANSAS?!? C'mon! Oh well, that'll be a free trip too, so why not?
To all you guys who are down on these kids for stringing it out as long as they can, I get frustrated too not knowing. But admit it, how many of us wouldn't play the same game given the chance? It's a national stage for them, and I guess I understand why they take full advantage of it. Not saying it's right, and it does get on your dad-gummed nerves, but cut 'em some slack. After all, if their decision is to sign with us, we're going to DEMAND that they perform, and perform well, on a national stage grander than the one they're creating for themselves currently.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
Navalorange writes:
A Tennessee product, a linebacker, having a chance to be coached by Monte Kiffin and Lance Thompson. I think he knows that's a great opportunity. CLK told him to have fun on his other visits, the kid's got to like that kind of confidence in his new coach.
vol1994 writes:
let me log on and I will attempt to cut/paste article.
vol1994 writes:
Looks good guys, This guy supposedly gave a silent commitment to coach Kiffin this morning before he left.
-------------------------------------
Tulsa, Oklahoma defensive lineman Pearlie Graves has been committed to Michigan since the middle of November. He is still taking visits and this weekend he was in Knoxville to check out Tennessee. Has his status changed?
"Everyone is even," Graves said. "I don't have a leader."
Graves was hosted by Oklahoma native and Vol receiver Gerald Jones. The visit was a success and Graves made it clear that Tennessee is very much in the mix for his signature
vol1994 writes:
"Tennessee is going to be tough to beat,' Graves said. "It was without a doubt my best visit so far. I really enjoyed the coaches and players. The hostess was nice and it was good from the beginning till the end."
He took in the Tennessee basketball game. He toured the facilities and hung out with the team. But his favorite part was his time inside Neyland Stadium and a unique setting inside the Tennessee locker room.
"They gave us a little preview of everything," Graves said. "Some of the players and us got in the locker room and they acted like it was game time. The intensity was high and it showed what it will be like when it's game time at Tennessee. Coach Kiffin gave us a motivational speech and then we ran out on the field. That was my favorite part.
"The players really stood out too. If you need something then they got you. I love that. That's tight. It's good to see a team that is like a family."
He really enjoyed his time with the Vol coaching staff. Getting coached by solid coaches and having a chance to see the field early is on his agenda.
"I'm looking to see how I'm going to be coached," Graves said. "Having the chance for early playing time is big and just a lot of stuff to look at when you are at the school."
With a lack of depth at defensive tackle, Tennessee offers the opportunity for early playing time. That is very attractive to Graves.
"That's a big bonus," Graves said. "Every freshman wants to start from the outset. It allows you to get situated early and then make a move your sophomore year and become a better player."
Graves will finish up the traveling portion of his recruitment next weekend with a visit to Oklahoma. He says that leaving the Sooner state isn't a problem and that the process is growing tiresome and old.
"OU is probably going to be my last visit," Graves said. "I'm almost done with everything. It's about time to wrap it up. I'll notify everyone of my intentions on signing day."
cainclifton23 writes:
Thanks Vol!
Very much appreciated.
I hope we get this guy, he looks like a killer. haha
Navalorange writes:
Sounds like Kiffin is not only a great salesman, but he has the team on board too. We're gonna steal some guys folks, I feel it in my bones. Where's the witchdoctor?
1vol writes:
Thank-you so much Vol1994.This is one guy I would be so excited to get.If we could get a eight man rotation we would ware teams out in the late in games.
MemphisVol writes:
come on Greg! Join the Vol Nation!
vol1994 writes:
no problem. IF I see anymore news later tonight I will post to this thread or another so just review any NEW threads that may appear. I doubt I will though being KNS (LOL).
GO STEELERS!!!
1vol writes:
Now if we could hear from White and Mason with good news.I saw that Hurst comitted to Ok. state.
volonthehill writes:
This would be great!
txvolsfan writes:
Thanks 94
I'm excited about April!!!
TNfaninMS writes:
Havent heard anything about Mike Edwards lately. Anyone know whats up with him, i also saw that about Hurst on scout.com.
BolivarBob writes:
Pretty neat stuff! I'm impressed with the impression that Kiffin appears to be making with these young men. Intrigued also. It seems Fulmer was recruiting defense, OL and WR's and Kiffin continues to do the same. He told Boyd, pretty much, he wouldn't fit in. We have good backs with Oku coming in. Do we have 10 more spots to add to the 15/16/17? commits we already have. Does Kiffin see something in all or one of our 3 QB's? Does he have one up his sleeve somewhere? I'm wild with anticipation to see how this will be played out on Feb. 4th. Go Vols!
Navalorange writes:
If I was a betting man, and I am, I'd bet we have more than one surprise coming Feb. 4th.
volfan1967 writes:
This has been posted like 300 times.
volpreacher writes:
He's ours!!!!
vol1994 writes:
looks like we will keep aubrey phillips
--------------------Memphis, Tennessee native Aubrey Phillips had seen Neyland Stadium before. He had visited all the facilities. He had hung out with the players, but the Vol commitment who has taken other visits and will take more needed something specific on his official visit this weekend and that was a rapport with the new coaches.
"I wanted to see how the new coached acted around me," Phillips said. "They are all really cool. It was good to met all of them and it was a good visit."
Phillips was hosted by defensive end and fellow Memphis native Chris Walker and Phillips said all of the current guys are happy with things.
"Chris said all of the coaches were cool to talk to and visit with," Phillips said. "He didn't have anything bad to say about any of them."
Phillips will visit Florida State next weekend and either Auburn or Mississippi State the last weekend, but he said he knows where he is going.
"I am set on Tennessee," Phillips said. "I visited with coach Kiffin today and he told me that he had big things planned for me and wanted me to be a part of his first class and to get things started right. I told him I was ready to come win an SEC Championship and he said it was time to go to work."
The recently named four star Phillips spent a good bit of time with new offensive line coach Jim Chaney and Phillips was impressed with his background.
"He was cool," the 6-foot-6, 310 pound Phillips said. "He knows the game. He has coached in the NFL which is big for me. He knows what people expect at that level and he knows what to do to get me better. He is an impressive guy."
Rivals.com ranks Phillips as a four star prospect and the 25th best offensive tackle in America.
-
HitnRunRick writes:
Looks like King and Graves are in!!! Need Marlon Brown, Sam Montgomery, Patrick Patterson, Pete White and AJ McCarron to fall in line!
TNfaninMS writes:
sounds good to me. There is a new article on rivals on Peter white. If anyone can get it, it would be appreciated.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
Just get them to visit and they will come! I think we wind up with an impressive class.
TNfaninMS writes:
Wonder why no one committed this weekend? I know a bunch of the guys were already committed but Graves, King, White. Just wondering why they did not committ.
smowkee writes:
One of the Planes is in Mobile right now. Could be there to see McCarron...
marc_ash#231781 writes:
What a confusingly written article.
HitnRunRick writes:
Didn't think recruiting was open again until Monday. Maybe planning on an early morning breakfast!
givehim6 writes:
Hope you will be a Vol Mr. King, a good " I'm not saying anything answer". But I really, really, really hoping Graves will be a Vol.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Listen folks, here is what you all have to understand when hypothesizing what recruits are going to do...if they are taking visits to other places, this is a GOOD thing in UT's case. Kiffin has been telling his recruits that they need to go to all of their visits and make 100% sure Tennessee is where they want to be. Kiffin has set the tone with this attitude, and parents/recruits LOVE it!
The carry over from telling Boyd and Petty and others that they may not find UT's system best for them has continued with new recruits. So, even though you are seeing recruits taking other visits, this is part of Kiffin's plan and greatly encouraged (even if recruits have already made up their minds). Let me tell you this, King will be in Knoxville next season.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hope you're right NO.
And I hope we don't have any ##&&^^# kind of surprises!
I'm so ready for this to be over.
Navalorange writes:
Ya, no sharts needed.
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