With just four days until National Signing Day, here are the prospects on Tennessee's recruiting board worth watching:
n Marlon Brown: The PARADE All-American receiver from Harding Academy in Memphis is the News Sentinel's top prospect in the state. Ohio State, Ole Miss and Florida are in the hunt but UT and Georgia are thought to be in the lead.
n Orson Charles: Georgia and Florida State seem to have the lead for the tight end from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., but UT is in the mix thanks to his official visit to Knoxville this weekend. He'll visit Southern California after National Signing Day.
n Terrance Coleman: The offensive lineman from Williamson High in Mobile, Ala., has been committed to Auburn last February but decided to visit UT this weekend.
n Marcus Hall: The offensive lineman from Glenville Academic in Cleveland, Ohio, visited UT this weekend. Most have had Hall pegged to land at Ohio State for weeks but his teammate, UT commitment Mike Edwards, said Hall will "shock the world". We'll see.
n Kendrick Hardy: The tailback from Lawrence County High in Monticello, Miss., has been committed to Southern Miss but is seriously considering UT following his official visit earlier this month.
n Alshon Jeffrey: The elite receiver from Calhoun County in St. Matthews, S.C., has long been committed to Southern Cal but is considering South Carolina and UT because of concerns about going to college so far from home.
n D.D. Jones: The Michigan defensive tackle commitment from Bastrop (La.) High has taken official visits to UT, Arkansas and Auburn this month.
n Kendall Kelly: It would be a surprise if he decided to sign with UT, but the Vols are in the mix thanks to an official visit this weekend. The receiver from Gadsden (Ala.) City High is also considering Alabama and Clemson.
n Eddie Lacy: The tailback from Geismar High in Dutchtown, La., visited Alabama last weekend and UT this weekend.
n Sam Montgomery: LSU has long been thought to be in the lead and now they have former UT defensive coordinator and South Carolina native John Chavis on their side. That should help for this defensive end from Greenwood (S.C.) High.
n Brandon Moore: Alabama, Auburn and Florida are in the mix for the offensive lineman from Carver High in Montgomery, Ala.
n Morgan Moses: One of the very best offensive linemen in the nation, this standout from Meadowbrook High in Richmond, Va., is also considering Virginia, where former UT receivers coach Latrell Scott is working. Scott and Moses are close.
n Robert Nelson: Likely UT's next verbal pledge, the linebacker from Stone Mountain (Ga.) High has said he plans to commit during his official visit to Knoxville this weekend.
n David Oku: The tailback from Carl Albert High in Midwest City, Okla., has been committed to UT for months. Now, he's taken official visits to Syracuse and Auburn. UT won't feel secure until they have his signed letter of intent.
n Tana Patrick: The linebacker from North Jackson High in Stevenson, Ala., is one of the highest-rated, undecided prospects left on UT's board. He's also considering Alabama, Auburn and Southern Cal.
n Marsalis Teague: The athlete from Henry County says he's still committed to Florida, but I'm told UT and Alabama are very much in contention.
n Nu'Keese Richardson: The speedster from Pahokee (Fla.) High finally made an official visit to UT this weekend. Other than that, he has seemed like a solid Florida commitment since May.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 124
jutvolfan#234198 writes:
Thanks. Tell me something I didn't know.
vailvol writes:
bama, just out of curiosity. how many other message boards do you hang out on and which ones?
RoadTrip writes:
Just out from nick Satan on the Bama site - interlopers on the Vols site will be punished.
SCarolinaVols writes:
Looking good for Big Orange
vailvol writes:
not sure i what you are getting at...i am just amazed at how fast you replied to this article not even being a vol fan. we are honored to have you here. keep up the good work.
FWBVol writes:
Don't you know vailvol that Alabama fans have to hang out on free sites because all their money goes to paying coaches and bribing players.
ThurmondEppy writes:
I promise, if you ignore the interlopers, don't address their comments and don't acknowledge them, they will go away.
jutvolfan#234198 writes:
just very great
volinlouisiana writes:
Ater this years embarassing team, I'm just impressed that this new staff is involved with so many big names. The future looks bright!
volinlouisiana writes:
I don't understand what is the big deal about having fans from other teams on our sight. I personally like alot of their insight. True, it is annoying when they purposely try to inflame the conversation with things just meant to upset UT fans, but I believe they are not nearly as annoying as AREYOUKIFFINME.
OrangeMagic writes:
Derrick Thomas was one of the greatest to ever play the game, period. Sad that his career ended prematurely.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
Well Don't
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
You're pretty damned stupid. You're like a big, fat, ugly fly at a picnic. Get a clue . . . .
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
Most of them do go away--or briefly comment and go away. This guy is a certified nut.
VolInSabanLand writes:
While everyone seems to be greatly excited by the lists of the same names as we have seen, (mostly at least), for weeks, I have to admit that I am not so enthused. From that list, not a single one seems likely to be a Vol. Yes...it is wonderful that we have visits and at least a CHANCE at them, but there is a fair probability that none end up in Knoxville.
Add to this the fact that the only 2 which seem to be real possibilities are ones already committed to UT for some time and which we are depserately trying to hang onto. When you don't think you can land the "possibles" and are fearful that you can't keep the "committed," then it isn't as rosy at many here make it sound.
By the way, I am all but certain bama987 is correct on Shackelford. I have been saying here for a while that it will be very hard to keep him out of Oxford. There are several reasons for this: he was not treated well by the Kiffin regime until AFTER he won the MVP at the All-Star game; he has been heavily recruited by Nutt & Co.; he was not impressed by the behavior of the players and recruits during his visit to K'ville; he has coaches at his high school who are pushing Ole Miss; he fears having to change posiions if he attends UT. All this is a huge shame since he has always been a very big Vol fan.
I hope there's a last minute surprise with DT, but I don't see it happening.
So, as exciting as the above list may be, truth is we probably don't get more than one or two and will almost certainly lose at least one.
This is a case where I hope and pray to be wrong.
Slystone writes:
Don't look for Brown to say anything this weekend that would lead the Vols into thinking he is a lock. He is very smart and will make it known on NSD. Question for all on this site would you be disappointed in our 3.35 million dollar staff if there are no additional verbal commits by Sunday?
kjneel#238751 writes:
I love to see two dim wits argue about who is less ignorant. "Dang, I can make money bein stupid, your more stupider,.. " No you are"
Can we please stick to conversation about UT football?
volinlouisiana writes:
Where are you getting this inside info? Maybe Kiffin & co weren't real hot until late in the game because they only had like 2 recruiters until late in the game. Unless you count Drayton and Michaels, we don't know how commited they were.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
Amen
notoriousBIGorange writes:
That is CONVERSATIONS you idiot. If AL didn't rank dead last in education in this country, you wouldn't need spell check for your essays and papers. Maybe you'll finally graduate high school on your 5th try.
volinlouisiana writes:
coming on here and arguing seems like a waste of time. Your post about Shackleford and D Thomas were legit. Stick to those and you won't ever find me giving you grief.
tenndave writes:
I am truly suprised that more defensive prospects haven't jump at the possibility of playing for Monte. I have watched his plane routes and you can figure where he is spending the most time. Are these players truly leaning away from us or is Monte hiding something big.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Hooker.... you left off alot of players that we are still in on:
DT Pearlie Graves (heard he's decommitting from Michigan to commit to UT, even cancelled his trip to OU this weekend)
RB Bryce Brown (outside chance)
WR Pat Patterson (between Bama, Ole Miss, and UT)
OL Pete White (leaning towards Miami, but also has UT and Maryland in his final 3)
S Darren Myles Jr (between LSU and UT, heard he's leaning to UT)
DB Janzen Jackson (between LSU and UT, depends on what Myles does)
TE Zaccheus Mason (#2 TE on ESPN.com, between Ole Miss and UT but I'e also heard he's silent commit to UT)
volinlouisiana writes:
Maybe it is what a super rec. staff does, maybe not. Seems to me they are trying to build something from the foundation up according to their recruiting philosophy. They haven't really clued us in on exactly what that is, but if Coach O and Coach Kiff are patterning it after previous experiences at USC and Ole Miss, then I'm willing to trust them for a couple of years and see how it all works out.
notoriousBIGorange writes:
Well, see what hanging around Bama does to your brain?!?
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
You'd think the recruits would be willing to accept the
decision of college coaches to play them at the position for which they are best suited. I recall several who were supposedly real terrors at their position in high school, but were only average or below at the same position in college. When switched to their 'natural' position in college, they became stars there. Tim Priest, for example, was all state at quarterback, but says that he knew he had to find another position after he saw Bobby Scott throw the football.
VolInSabanLand writes:
VolInLa and others:
I happen to personally know DT and the coaches I am referencing. So, no I didn't read this anywhere, its from firsthand conversations with the parties involved. DT has NOT told me he is going to Ole Miss, but that is my "reading between the lines" assessment. Again, I hope to be very, very wrong.
As for the lack of staff at that time, I agree it is a factor. but it runs deeper, I assure you. One of his coaches got one of those famed "He doesn't fit our system" calls the week of the All-Star game. The next week, they had changed their minds a bit. Ole Miss never waivered with him.
Kiffin was at his school last Wednesday and I haven't talked with him since then. I am hoping it went extremely well as I know that Nutt and practically the entire Ole Miss staff were in his home last Monday and he was quite impressed.
jobrando#216494 writes:
We know you are here to just build up the post count so KNS can justify this blog. When I want real Bama info I go to the Champagne of bama blogs. I discount anything u say.
volinlouisiana writes:
I think they know they are not going to get a top 10 class this year. I think they are trying to do the best they can this year and get the "types" of guys they want for their system, and then really come out with guns blazing next year. Foundations sometimes take more than 5 minutes to build and your gonna piss some people off when you build em right. That's somehing I like about Kiff and Coach O, they don't seem afraid to do that.
volinlouisiana writes:
Hopefully the visit did go well. Maybe Kiffin & CO dropped the ball with this guy. Hopefully he was man enough to admit it to DJ and DJ forgives him. The coaches will make some mistakes, but I still appreciate their boldness in approach to their vision.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Amen to THAT, brother! Actually the Bama guy isn't too bad except when he is indulging in his gratuitous digs. Not that many of us don't give him all the excuses he needs!
TommyJack writes:
and he works in downtown Knoxburg next to ZZ.
Colliervol writes:
Now now notorious, you need to lay off the kid. He's going to be a kolledge gradiet pretty soon. As noted before though, spelling at UA isn't one of their strong curriculums so we have to cut him some slack. That has been proven time and time again.
He's going to be a regular brain surgeon, double naught spy just like Jethro Bodine:
"Naught from naught is naught....."
invisiblekid writes:
On Shackelford, the first time he met with the coaches was during the visit last week. Tells me he wasn't a priority for them for whatever reason much like Petty and Boyd. Whether the recruiting staff is right or wrong, only time will tell. Best of luck to the kid.
Vol43 writes:
Man, if I were you, I'd pack my things and get the hell out of that god forsaken state.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Not necessarily, but I WOULD be a bit disappointed if we don't get some by NSD. Even so, we all knew that this year was an up-hill fight for the blue-chippers. Let's just be satisfied for now that we may be getting turned down by a better class of recruits, and that we are making contacts with HS coaches and such that may pay off for us later.
Vol43 writes:
I totally agree with your assessment, but these losers will never leave so we just deal with it. I think they're jealous of the University of Tennessee and just can't help themselves. I guess, in a weird way, we should be complimented by their presence: annoying as it is.
MattDillon writes:
He,s not a priority now since Tana Patrick will be wearing the BIG ORANGE
invisiblekid writes:
Amazing what can happen when you have a talented coach and recruiter like Lance Thompson on the staff.
TommyJack writes:
Bwahahahahhahahahaha
OrangeFrenzy writes:
Scout.com reported that D.T. Shackelford made a verbal commitment to Ole Miss today.
invisiblekid writes:
Not willing to step out on that ledge myself but it would be nice. Patrick looks like a difference maker.
1963volfan writes:
Cant we all just get along. LOL
T_VOLZ writes:
I have bad feeling we lose more than we gain but i hope imwrong
daschmit#297884 writes:
If our "guests" came here for the purposes of civil, respectful discourse/debate, that would be perfectly acceptable. Many of them, however, post exclusively for the purposes of antagonizing Tennessee fans on a Tennessee web site and then have the audacity to feign self-righteous anger at the fact that we don't appreciate their intrusive presence.
TommyJack writes:
Well stated. Plus I haven't seen much "insight" being shared. PLUS, a couple of them are not even true interlopers.
invisiblekid writes:
OK, glad you cleared that up for me.
I still think I like our chances with Thompson given he is the National Recruiter of the Year according to Rivals.
Couple of minor points:
1)It's spelled Sunseri
2)Saban probably isn't online here so addressing him directly is likely pointless.
tripper writes:
After reading the story, I could have told you exactly what this board would look like. Idiotic story = idiotic posts!!!
daschmit#297884 writes:
Claaaas, behold a quintessential example of the "strutting peacock," a gnat-like nuisance that God produced at the dawn of time before he had truly mastered the art of creation.
Is that sufficiently novel for your taste?
Vol43 writes:
Well let's see..Class, Dignity, Respect for others all of which are foreign to people like you. Keep it up fat boy.
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