This is a very sensitive time for Tennessee recruiting. Have no doubt; the Vols are going after top-flight prospects, which are often committed to other schools.
That means a low profile for the Vols is the most prudent method of recruiting such prospects without attracting the attention of other schools. That means that this list of weekend official visitors could grow significantly. Here are the confirmed guests:
Mike Edwards: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver from Glenville Academic Campus in Cleveland, Ohio, has long said UT leads for his services even though he has continued to take official visits elsewhere. Could this weekend be the time when Edwards decides to pull the trigger? Cincinnati and Minnesota are also in the mix.
James Green: The 6-2, 202-pound receiver from Leon High in Tallahassee, Fla., has impressed recruiting analysts even after the season concluded. Green moved up from No. 232 to No. 123 among Rivals top prospects in the nation. Green committed to UT in December.
Alshon Jeffery: An Under Armour All-American, Jeffery is certainly one of the most intriguing prospects on UT's board. The 6-3, 215-pound receiver from Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, S.C., committed to Southern California in June but has since expressed travel concerns. Jeffery is also considering South Carolina.
Darren Myles Jr.: Another Under Armour All-American, the 6-1, 175-pound safety from Carver High in Atlanta is considering mainly considering Ohio State, Alabama, LSU and Purdue, where his father played. Myles was the first prospect UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin called after he joined UT's staff.
Kevin Revis: A long-time UT commitment, Revis was a bit of surprise prospect when the Vols offered him last summer. Since then he has earned respect from high school coaches in Tennessee with his intense play. A project? Perhaps, but don't count out this 6-3, 265-pound offensive lineman from Rhea County who is expected to play center in college.
JerQuari Schofield: The Vols waited patiently while the 6-6, 300-pounder visited Clemson earlier this month. A UT commitment since June, Schofield claimed he just wanted to keep his options open. This weekend in Knoxville could close the deal if Schofield leaves impressed with UT once again.
D.T. Shackelford: The 6-1, 220-pound linebacker from Austin High in Decatur, Ala., committed to UT in August but has since taken official visits to Auburn and Ole Miss. The Rebels might be UT's greatest concern as Shackelford has visited Oxford twice since committing to UT. A solid visit to Knoxville this weekend would surely soothe Shackelford's concerns about a new coaching staff.
Damien Thigpen: A commitment to UT since April, the 5-8, 170-pound athlete is finally taking his official visit. The product of Stonewall Jackson High in Manassas, Va., also received interest from West Virginia, Boston College, Connecticut and Auburn.
Quinton Washington: One of the most physically gifted athletes in the Under Armour All-American game, the 6-3, 315-pounder from St. Stephen High in Timerberland, S.C., looks more like a lean, pass rushing defensive tackle than an offensive lineman. Michigan and Clemson are in the picture but UT and South Carolina are the schools to watch. UT quarterbacks coach David Reaves was well aware of Washington before leaving South Carolina's staff.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 68
rockytop#413695 writes:
Go get em boys!
Basketball_Jones writes:
This weekend and next weekend will sum up this 09 class....Should be interesting
doh writes:
any of these guys coming in should help out. tennessee's talent level is good, but it is down from the past. these recruits should really look at who would be ahead of them if they do decide to come. they would compete right away.
SemperVol writes:
GREEKDAWG posted a link which noted that Papa K was in Atlanta this morning visiting with Myles...
With his official visit this weekend (and that being his last official allotted to him) we might be getting dealt a pretty decent hand here... looking good.
Revis looks like a 265-pound Gerber baby.
DisorientedVol writes:
Hope bama987 is wrong, but he has a point. We have talked to everyone, but so far very few new commentments. Optimism will have to prevail until feb 4th.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Good to see that we are getting some good recruits to visit. You never know until they sign the dotted line. Hopefully we can pull some upsets on paper more than we did last year on the field. GO VOLS!
iwastherein98 writes:
These kids weren't even looking at us before. This is great.
MemphisVol1485 writes:
These are two HUGE weekends for recruiting. There is some big time talent and the basketball schedule is perfect with Memphis coming in this week and Florida and gameday next week. Knoxville is going to be rocking and those recruits should be very impressed!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Nice article. Would like to see more informative pieces like this on recruits/commitments.
cgbtn writes:
Coach Johnny Majors, who coached Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett, said the last player we got from Leon HS was the best player he ever coached. I hope Green is of that caliber.
volinlouisiana writes:
You don't come in and in a month reverse everything other coaches have been working on for two years.
If you don't think Coach O and gang can recruit, then you have a different opinion that about every college football person in the know.
Remember though: it's still not over.
jobrando#216494 writes:
and his point is? other than we want get anyone...Fulmer was always the thief in the last week. If this crew cant do that also then we got problems.. I look for two snatches for sure.
uahvol75 writes:
i thought KNS reported yesterday that Reid was quoted saying that he has switched his visit from tuscaloosa to knoxville this weekend..i think Rivals may not be up to date..or maybe kns got it wrong
JBruce writes:
Anyone that trolls a rival site like you do, always trying to stir sh*t up obviously prides himself in being an a**hole.
cjraney writes:
Of course not Bammer, you won't see that happen til NSD in 2 weeks.
blitzshoot writes:
Seems like half of these were committed some time ago, but were still taking visits elsewhere. Hopefully they
will drive it home this weekend.
volzcrushm writes:
I wonder if CLK has a QB secretly in mind? Guess we'll see on feb.5.
798orange writes:
Based on the numbers scheduled for this weekend and next, I think we have a better than even chance of signing(or "stealing" as you put it) a few of the high-rated guys that we are not expected to get.
InBruceWeTrust writes:
Here are the players rankings for those of you that are interested...
Mike Edwards, cornerback: 3-Star recruit, no commitment, UT hasn't yet offered to him but I have a feeling he may be holding out 'til we offer.
James Green, reciever: 4-Star recruit, solid verbal to UT, I think we have him locked up.
Alshon Jeffery, reciever: 4-Star recruit, soft verbal to USC, I don't know much about him but he would be a great pickup
Darren Myles, safety: 4-Star recruit, no commitment, like people have said, he looks to be a longshot. I however, wouldn't count us out considering the firepower of our recruiters.
Kevin Revis, center: 3-Star recruit, solid verbal to UT, smart kid, we won't lose him.
Greg Reid, cornerback: 5-Star recruit, no commitment, another longshot but I'm crossing my fingers that him changing his visit to us may be an indication that he's seen something he likes.
JerQuari Schofield, O-Line: 4-Star recruit, soft verbal to UT, our only competition is Clemson and he didn't show great interest to them after his visit so we should be in good shape.
D.T. Shackelford, Linebacker: 4-Star recruit, soft verbal to UT, I don't know much about this kid but his last visit is with us and I think we have him locked up.
Damien Thigpen, Athlete: 4-Star recruit, solid verbal to UT, he's not going anywhere. Anyone care to help me out with what position we'll probably be seeing him play?
Quintin Washington, Offensive Guard, 4-Star recruit, no commitment, I don't know what are chances are but I'd sure like to see him in orange
InBruceWeTrust writes:
Did he recently change it?
I thought he changed his visit from Bama to UT...or was that someone else?
givehim6 writes:
Can you imagine what the 2010 class will be like after Kiffin & Co. has a whole year to work.
dmjohn2#576066 writes:
The last I read on VolQuest Brent said this morning and I quote,
Tennessee is trying to make some noise in Georgia and they are hopeful of having a couple of visitors from the Peach state this weekend. Former Florida commitment and five star defensive back Greg Reid has said that he is going to visit the Vols this weekend instead of Alabama.
letshave1more writes:
Can someone please post the bama record for the last ten years? They have sucked until the hiring of satan and he turned it around in 2 years. CLK will do the same....
GO VOLS! Of course we have been decent the last ten years...
vol1994 writes:
yeah, we are just wasting our time recruiting these guys. We should just roll over and play dead because all the 4 and 5 star athletes are going to Bama or Florida?
I guarantee we will steal a few guys this year. I have more faith in Tony Barnhardt than you my friend so ...
Barnhardt said he is amazed of the recruiting job Kiffin and company have done and that his sources tell him that UT will end up being a possible top 10 class but definitely 15!
vol1994 writes:
NO
bluetick writes:
Just because you have a top 5 class or even an overall #1 class doesn't necessarily mean you are going to a BCS or win the NC or even go to a bowl game. UT's recruiting in the past has been stellar and so has USC's, Texas, LSU and recently Florida. Look at Utah. Where have they been ranked the past years? It is how well you are coached and how well the team gels and believes they can win. Too many hot shots only causes trouble. I'd prefer to have a team that works together and believes they can win and with the coaching staff we have in place now it is set up for success. I don't care where we are ranked necessarily or how many stars these guys are. I really enjoy the recruiting process as much as anybody but ability in High School is only part of the equation.
GreenDevilVol writes:
Has anyone heard if or when Freeman,Montgomery, and Kirkpatrick will visit?
manassasballer writes:
I think people need to start talk about Thigpen more. I live in Manassas and the kid is a player. He will be deadly on special teams. He is super quick and has a great motor. He is very small though. He will probably be stuck at the slot
annemarie writes:
Definitely interesting. However, this is our first very short year of recruiting. I will be happy with whomever we sign. What I think really matters are the inroads we make with the HS coaches/recruits for 2010. I think that is when we really see where we are headed. I will not discount 2009 - but what we get is what we get. No more - no less. The important thing is that the possibility of playing for UT is out there - and recruits are listening - and liking what they hear.
dmjohn2#576066 writes:
This is a list of who is scheduled to come on the 30th, didn't find anything on Dre Kirkpatrick visiting.
Marlon Brown WR 6.0 6-5/205 January 30
Orson Charles WR 6.0 6-2/230 January 30
Terrance Coleman DT 5.7 6-1/244 January 30
Chris Freeman OL 5.6 6-7/325 January 30
Marcus Hall OL 6.0 6-5/290 January 30
Eddie Lacy RB 5.9 5-11/210 January 30
Sam Montgomery DE 5.9 6-4/230 January 30
Patrick Patterson WR 6.0 6-3/215 January 30
Tim Simon RB 5.7 6-1/210 January 30
Derrick Webb LB 5.6 6-0/214 January 30
Terrell Williams ATH 5.6 6-2/210 January 30
Txvol57 writes:
Tana Patrick LB will be visiting on the 30th also....Can you say STUD!!!
Down_The_Field writes:
double check that...think it's 7-3. Bama won in 2000, 2007, and 2008...rest VOLs 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
cjraney writes:
I'm very excited to see him play. I think he hasn't been mentioned as much b/c he was an early commitment and hasn't publicly wavered, which is great. But the guys getting talked about are those not yet committed or who are obviously still looking.
I would much rather Thigpen be a big story for his play once on campus than just a bunch of recruiting speculation. I hope UT will continue to recruit the Virginia area, it was one positive from the Clawson & Co. experiment.
gcscvol writes:
I think Bama987 said it better than any of us ever could "I CAN'T SEE"
cjraney writes:
Scout is showing 3* WR Ricky Johnson is now visiting on Jan 30. He's from Carencro HS in Louisiana, listed at 5'11", 185, runs 4.45.
Anybody know if there's a cap on # of recruits a school can host on any given weekend? Never heard of one, just wondering.
daschmit#297884 writes:
Despite the dramatic contrast in style, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Kiffin pull one page out of Fulmer's book so to speak. Since so many of our recruits are from out of state, he may well advise them to wait until shortly before National Signing Day to make their respective announcements so as to minimize the in-state flack they otherwise would receive.
ChuckG writes:
P*ss off Bama 987, you loser. You, an Alabama fan, are coming onto our UT site and telling someone to shut up. What a loser you must be. You have been coming on this site since November and have all ready coughed up around a THOUSAND posts; around 15 posts a day. That is ridiculous for a UT fan, but to be a fan from another school and spend the time you spend on this site,WOW! That does not even include the time that I am sure you spend on Alabama sites. Get a life, put away the computer and get a hobby.
sidwalkvol writes:
who is the one who canceled from the earlier article? Reid?
Vol_from_birth writes:
yea, i thought he was scheduled to visit UT on the 30th...
volsfan22 writes:
im tired of all u damn flar-duh and bama fans (buck fama) fans on here sorry that u so scared of who we might get and what we might do that you have to get on here. so worry bout your own website and stay the freak outa here cuz ur only goin to get bad news you dont want to see and get your feelings hurt
dmjohn2#576066 writes:
Running back Kendrick Hardy said he is coming tomorrow
superbo11#344425 writes:
Coach Thompson said hey.
bama sucks
DHW writes:
Bama is right, they won 6-3. Stellar offense by both teams....
WYLOVER writes:
Did you read rivals to see what Utah is doing?
I know what they did.....embarrass you and the SEC.
I am so glad Kiffin is getting close to bringing the in type of talent that will make Bama and UGA irrelevant once again.
oldvolsfan writes:
go read your own paper (if bamahas one) and get the phooey away from here your oorange is starting to cover the crimson
TNfaninMS writes:
Rivals has us having 13 visitors this weekend. I wonder why KNS only has 9 listed on here. Someone update the list for me please.
Mommasboy writes:
I'm still not expecting a top 10 class this year. I'm trying to stay realistic.
lovinwk writes:
It would be great to get the talent although I don't put much stock in rated athletes at the HS level. We're making a lot of people nervous with CLK and company. Whether founded or not; It's effective.
DisorientedVol writes:
This year is all bonus in recruiting. Next year will be payday. But your right, I think King is coming and probable 2 or 3 more (likely defence but maybe another receiver). Great job by the coaches with the time they had. However, everyone should be praying for offensive linemen.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Looks like Bama won't get Darren Myles nor Trent Richardson. The tide is ebbing.
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