Some SEC rivals are targeting two of Tennessee’s long-standing football commitments.
Tailback David Oku from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla., will visit Auburn this weekend, according to The Birmingham News. Oku took an official visit to Syracuse last weekend.
Receiver Je’Ron Stokes is expected to take an official visit to Georgia. The 6-1, 180-pound receiver from Northeast High in Philadelphia committed to UT in April, becoming the Vols’ first commitment for the 2009 signing class.
Stokes was first considering a Georgia visit last week when he told the News Sentinel he still considered himself a UT commitment. The Vols and Bulldogs are also facing off for another highly rated receiver: Marlon Brown from Harding Academy in Memphis.
Stokes has also taken official visits to Illinois and Michigan this month after expressing concern over the unknowns at UT following its coaching change. Stokes took his official visit to Knoxville in September.
Oku told the News Sentinel last week that he wouldn’t be taking any more official visits before National Signing Day on Feb. 4. The 5-10, 185-pound Oku hasn’t responded to several calls and text messages seeking comment.
Stokes and Oku are both considered among the top prospects in the nation.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 97
memphis_vol_fan writes:
Stokes or Brown? I think UT will get one of these two. Not both.
Oku will remain a Vol. I hope.
HtownVol writes:
Come on guys, we need you. You can do great things at UT!
tnvol27#546179 writes:
They"ll be Vols.
RoadTrip writes:
This young man is covering his bases. He may opt out of his commitment subject to future announced commitments. Oh well...
1volgal writes:
Oku will not be a vol. Count on it
RoadTrip writes:
Talking about Oku by the way. We never really had Stokes.
Irwin_Linker writes:
Melrose and Harding Academy are a little different Dave. Marlon goes to the latter.
HtownVol writes:
Whats your source?
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
If they visit Alabama and they take them on the obligatory strip club tour, Bama will pick up 3 more.
HtownVol writes:
Why do you say that? Hes been commited to us for a year. Never pulled his commitment. I think hes always been a Vol! And I think he will end up being our best freshman next year!
saveoursaints writes:
Tick, tick, tick. I hope these young men know we're counting on them. We're going to do great things in the near future, and it starts with the three of them.
memphis_vol_fan writes:
So Mike Price is a recruiting host at Bama now.
HtownVol writes:
Who is the 3rd. I thought the article was abouot Stokes and Oku.
saveoursaints writes:
The article also mentions M. Brown.
MattDillon writes:
The coaching unknowns are over Stokes. Either get on the train or not,for, it will roll on with or without you
HtownVol writes:
OK. In that case. I have saying for a long time that those 3 are the most important kids we can pick up this year. Last year we had no big play makers. We need them very bad. Those 3 can do great things at UT. I hope that they see that also!
RoadTrip writes:
Sincerely hope you are right. However, it's a big jump from the north to TN/SEC and he has his traveling shoes on lately...
Irwin_Linker writes:
Also, take it for what it is worth, but I was at a party this past weekend and was the only person there that didn't go to Harding and know Marlon Brown really well. I got some insider info from everyone there he played football with, and they all agree that we are in his top three. Unfortunately, they also said we are his third choice as of now. Everyone agreed that he may go here, but Ohighly Overrated State was the consensus pick. Hopefully this weekend can convince him to stay home. GO VOLS
VolGraduate writes:
oku is a vol.
brown is a vol.
stokes is the most questionable..imoofc
VolGraduate writes:
banned: that site is obviously garbage since he IS still committed to us...we would at least be on the least
RoadTrip writes:
If the site is correct, why would we recruit a guy that has a high school GPA of 2.5 and an ACT of 16?! No offense intended, but, the only chance he has if he gets here is to redshirt to pass some classes to remain eigible for a year of playing time.
Volumni writes:
Neither is Syracuse, where he visited last weekend.
Scholfield did commit last night, not that you'd know it from KNS.... Only those who don't choose us get articles. Did Kiff tick someone off?
Homermoosevols writes:
I posted this a couple of hours ago. I read it on ESPN. Once again, Go Volsxtra outplayed.
mlbrown5454 writes:
Stokes to Big 10.
Brown looking UGA - OSU - then UT.
Hopefully this weekend is big and his grandmother pushes.
Oku visiting Auburn isn't good if Trooper pumps him up.
NoogaVol55 writes:
That makes sense...he hasn't been here yet! Once "The Staff" gets a chance to roll out the red carpet, I like our chances!
byobbio writes:
I saw on a message board somewhere that Oku was purchasing land in Jefferson County.
jrwvol writes:
It may be a real site but when was it updated? I have been following the posts and recruiting info on this site for the last 6 months and have only heard of two guys mentioned on GVX who are on their "players" list.
orngbluded writes:
I just hope Georgia doesnt beat us out on stokes and brown,we need to get atleast one but would love to get both to go along with the top 10 QB we are going to get next year.I hope we can still hang onto oku.
all_vols writes:
seems this site can be the "spin zone" occasionally. some of these articles seem like they are meant to be the splinter under the fingernail for us vol fans. remember, CLK told these guys to take other visits if they wanted to. hey, if you'd rather be somewhere else, good luck and good riddance. signing day is all that really matters.
NoogaVol55 writes:
I agree...I would love to have them but if they go elsewhere...so be it. This train is a rollin!! (It will roll faster with Stokes and Oku..but it is rollin nonetheless.)
smashmouth98 writes:
I talked to both Oku & Stokes at the O/W game this past spring. They were blown away about our passion for football!! They couldn't believe that I knew who they were and thought UT was sweet. I don't know how the coaching change affected their upcomming decision. Hopefully they will remain loyal to the VOLS!!!!!!!!
I think both will still come to K-town and run wild over the SEC!!!
MattDillon writes:
Oku,Oku,Oku. Please. We have backs,i,feel are good backs.If he's a vol great if not so be it.I all starts up front!
Redbone writes:
My fellow TN fan, you need to come out of the woods at some point. Taking a visit to Syracuse is not taking a visit to NYC. He might as well taken a visit to Kansas St. It's two totally different places.
TommyJack writes:
I wish I shared your opinion of our current backs.
jturne44 writes:
why don't you? creer was a 4 star outta texas and runs hard every play, hardesty with some better blocking can bust huge gains and taureen poole looks to be quite the scat back
johnsoncityvol writes:
Stokes is getting pushed pretty hard by Michigan and his parents really like Coach Rodriguez. Also, last week after his official visit to Illinois he says he has never been so confused. I think TN is out for the simple fact we can't have him on an official visit this weekend. It would be nice to land him and his brother who is a pretty good QB for class of 2010. Here is an excerpt from rivals article and a link.
http://tennessee.rivals.com/content.a...
"Coach (Rich) Rodriguez, the offensive coordinator Calvin Magee and (wide receivers' coach) Tony Dews showed up and we had a real good time. I think it really went well," Stokes' father, Ronald, said.
"They were saying the same thing they've always been saying, that they really want my son and they made it very clear that he has an opportunity to come in and compete and get some playing time. They think he can bring so much to the table and they're looking forward to coaching him up...
Michigan is battling Illinois, Tennessee and Georgia for Stokes' services. If Michigan is the choice for the four-star receiver next week, his father would be supportive of that.
"If it is Michigan, I would feel pretty comfortable. It's a great place," Ronald Stokes said. "I think the most important thing is where Ronnie feels comfortable. Me and my wife think that Rodriguez's staff are great people. They've been more than what we expected."
yeavols#228407 writes:
Auburn hasn't won phooey and Georgia is just as bad. No worries...I can't see the recruits picking the uglies over Tennesse's stadium, facilities, and new coaching staff.
Voluvr writes:
If these players want to be the coached and best prepared for the NFL they will go to Tennessee. With the quality recruits UT is now getting, these guys will be a part something special here.
Voluvr writes:
I'm not worried and these players aren't stupid. They know where the best coaching and program is in the country. At Tennessee and they want to be a part of it.
I'm glad others want them. If no one looks at your girlfriend then you know she's ...well, you get my point.
VOLlivin_inbama writes:
Hey guys, this is off the subject, but check out this article. Then e-mail Mr. Finebaum, and let him know what a joke you think he is! It really is a very funny article!
http://www.al.com/sports/press-regist...
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Its not time to panic. Hey these kids have fun on these trips and they just want to experience it all. Hey if I was a 5 star athlete I would want to visit as many schools as possible, even if my mind was made up, just to get the feel for each school. Oku will still be a Vol. Who would want to go to Syracuse and freeze your tail off.
gohawks1 writes:
My gut tells me that Oku commits to UT, but Stokes is a toss up.
My gut also tells me I shouldn't have eaten that extra bean burrito last night, but that's another story.
bobbytodd writes:
Syracuse isn't listed as a team either.
johnsoncityvol writes:
I don't know that I would go as far to say Kiffin cannot deliver the impact players, but you make a valid point. I wouldn't be surprised to see this class drop out of the top 25 or jump to the top ten. I do believe, that given time, we will see the recruits start to come our way once the new staff has a chance to go through the complete recruiting process. I'm not ready to annoint the new staff yet, but I'm not ready to throw them to the wolves either. Only time will tell.
volfan1967 writes:
STFU Phil.
iwastherein98 writes:
The class is already ranked higher than it was under Fulmer. You're a nerd.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We will know when pen meets paper or cap meets head.
oldvolsfan writes:
go sxxxw yourself
MattDillon writes:
My thoughts exactly.It's gonna be nice seeing linemen downfield bustin' their tail instead of laying in a pile on the line of scrimmage.
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
What was the word you were trying to spell??
Was it Shrew or Sinew or Squaw or Straw or even Strew?
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