As we count down the top high school football prospects in the state, I decided it's time for another list.
This one - much like the other - is subjective and open to interpretation. With Tennessee securing one of the best incoming freshman classes in the nation, here are the top 10 freshmen most likely to contribute in 2009:
1. Bryce Brown: There's a reason Brown was considered one of the very best prospects in the nation. He's big, fast, physical and mature beyond his years - evident by his willingness to move to Knoxville a month before he enrolled at UT. He's serious about being great.
Expect the running back from Wichita, Kan., to play early and have a major impact this season. First-year UT coach Lane Kiffin has said he will let his players play to their strengths and won't let them get bogged down with complicated pass protection schemes. That's refreshing.
2. Montori Hughes: There's no question that Hughes will play this season after being the breakout player of spring practice.
There are two reasons I don't have Hughes No. 1 on this list. First, playing defensive tackle as a freshman in the SEC is extremely tough. Second, Bryce Brown.
3. Nu'Keese Richardson: I expect Richardson to have a major impact this fall at receiver. He has the explosiveness that the Vols are lacking on offense.
Also, it would benefit the Vols' recruiting in Florida if he was a major part of UT's gameplan. As Kiffin has said publicly, that's how you build a pipeline into fertile recruiting territory.
4. Janzen Jackson: Placing any defensive back this high on this list could result in some criticism of my analysis. Yes, I know that the Vols' secondary is the best unit on their team but I think a lot of Jackson and …
5. Darren Myles Jr.: Myles will need to improve his upper-body strength but has the length and speed to play soon - even in UT's crowded secondary. Either Jackson, Myles or both will play significant snaps this fall.
6. Marsalis Teague: There's a reason Florida coach Urban Meyer lamented this loss. Teague has the athleticism to play somewhere soon, be it at receiver or at defensive back.
7. David Oku: He should bring some speed to UT's backfield. With speedy tailback Lennon Creer, who left last spring, out of the picture, Oku should get some opportunities on the edge and in the passing game.
8. Marlon Walls: UT's previous staff expected Walls to grow into a defensive lineman when they signed him in 2009. After a stint at Hargrave Military Academy and a seat at UT's training table, that will happen soon - if it hasn't already.
Walls' quickness will be a plus at end - if he doesn't grow into a defensive tackle.
9. Arthur Jeffrey: If Jeffrey is healthy, he'll compete for playing time at defensive tackle. He would have been a higher-ranked prospect had it not been for a knee injury suffered last October.
10. JerQuari Schofield: Don't be fooled by the offensive lineman's pedestrian recruiting ranking. UT's coaches love him and the previous staff deserves credit for evaluating and securing him.
Back to the Future: While there are a handful of solid prospects in the state for the 2010 signing class, it's clearly not as deep as previous years.
The elite prospects, however, are quite good. One in particular may be the best high school prospect I've seen in almost a decade of covering recruiting.
He'll be No. 1 on the News Sentinel's top prospect list. His identity will be revealed on Tuesday.
Hint: UT fans will be happy.
Scroggins Says?: I'm not usually one to place too much emphasis on one prospect, but Jesse Scroggins' pending decision will be huge for UT, whatever the 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback from Lakewood (Calif.) High decides.
If Scroggins picks UT, I could see another wave of momentum for the Vols' recruiting just before the season - and official visits - begins. If not, it could signal the beginning of the first slump in UT recruiting since Kiffin was hired in December.
Chase Rettig from San Clemente (Calif.) High is a fine player but he's not as electric or as highly sought as Scroggins.
And if both turn down the Vols? Ouch.
Dave Hooker may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 32
smashmouth98 writes:
Teague needs to play offense, due to our lack of playmakers at the WR position & our depth in the secondary. all of these player will see a lot of action this fall. show the kids they can play early if they are good enough!!
dvhill100 writes:
Play them early, play them often. Those who can, do.
txvolsfan writes:
Not a bad article Dave, quick to the point and not any wasted words!!!
Scroggins last interview didn't mention any team but UT and that was interesting!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Can't wait to see this group in action.
AllVol1 writes:
Hey Hook, nice article: positive, concise, and honest. If you guys are not planning on this already, then please consider an article during the fall practices that really looks into the upcoming O-line and their ability to execute the zone blocking schemes. Let's face it, Oku and Brown and Hardesty can run around all they want in our backfield, but they won't make much headway if our line cannot execute Kiffin's zone blocking scheme. Likewise, our QB's won't even have time to think of passing if they don't have time to drop back and set up. Yeah, we have some great players, upcoming freshmen included, but the biggest thing that would excite me would be to learn that our offense can truly move the ball on the ground and in the air against our defense. Don't tell me about our spring game stats. The defense acknowledged that they were running only 20% of their schemes and the offense knew what that was. Unfortunately, our opponents will not be so gracious.
teampenny#658108 writes:
JC may have a hard time if he can not depend on backs picking up rushers. We will get a lot of answers in the first three games. Go Vols
VOLFORLIFE writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
GreenDevilVol writes:
Out of that list of ten, I could very well see all of them on the field at some point this season.I have the feeling that we will all be pleasantly surprised this fall.
63-3 my azz,Fl will be lucky to score 24 on our defense,and with these type play makers coming in + the ones that should of been used ALL along; I can see a 9-10 win season !!
Think about it VOL FANS, the ten listed in the article, add Walls,Sykes,Hughes,Poole,Martin,Walker,Jones,Scott,D Thomas,Waggner,Wilks,D Williams,Donald,Douglas,Fleming,Hancock,G-Dub,Warren,Stocker,Vereen !!
I know that I am leaving off several that are and can be decisive play makers for this team,and NO KNOCK to CPF,but we have a staff that has a reputation for taking no prisoners !!!!!!
GreenDevilVol writes:
Well, O.K. I did as well as KNS;How could you leave off Askew,this will be another contributor this year.
Volgrad777 writes:
Awesome insight Hooker. Thanks for the update captain obvious. I find it quite possible you are the most horrid sports writer in the south. Certainly the one with the least football intelligence.
hotrodvol writes:
The 2010 class is weak in our state and also the QB position is weak nationally. CLK's second class should be even with his first class. But look out in 2011 because next years class is loaded in TN, LA. Our coaches are going after some very good QBs next year, they are in very good shape to land three of the top five in LA., and hopefully they will have a better relationship built with the Memphis coaches.
hotrodvol writes:
Also that was a good piece Hooker. Here is a good read out of a NC paper that sheds a good light on CLK.
http://www.dailytarheel.com/sports/ki...
ethanfrome writes:
You the loser dude. Take a hike.
hotrodvol writes:
Check out this story of UTs #1 defensive recruit on their board, Leff Luc. He is comming on an official visit Auburn week. Read the comment about location is not a factor, and check out the video. Oh yea if he signs with UT he should wear #27 and play in the middle, because he could be Al Wilson all over again.
volsfannsc writes:
Everyone seems perched on the QB issue and no one seems to be able to remember that it only took CLK a couple of months to hand us a top 10 recruiting class. Maybe CLK will be a victim of his own designed- so quick to deliver. This is college football, this is the SEC, and no one.....and I mean no one can surely 180 a team in one season. Will we be competitive again? ABSOLUTELY. Will other SEC teams have to beat us to claim a win? NO DOUBT. Will we lay down and allow SC or Vandy to step on us? NEVER. But..... don't forget we are in a rebuilding mode. I just dont see us having overnight success in all areas of the game. I warn every single one of you who are thinking big wins this year-be careful. I would love to see us pull in 10 wins this year but that might be a stretch. 7 to 8 is more likely, 9 would be an early Christmas. My point is we all seem to be perched on the fence like hungry vultures expecting the #1 high school picks at key positions. We will get our share, but I for one expect there to be a rebuilding period that is a bit longer than one off season. We'll get there- take a deep breath and be grateful for what CLK gives us.
volfan2002 writes:
The key to this season IMO is how the QB plays. We have a lot of weapons and if whomever plays QB can make the right decisions then this offense will click and be tough to stop.
y9since80 writes:
Thanks for the link Hotrod great read. Good article Hooker I dont know what crazy dave is thinking.
y9since80 writes:
where is the story?
crimsonviper writes:
volsfannsc, That is the best post i read in quite a while.
All teams must rebuild at some point.Your post defines the attitude all fans should have during those times.Good post.
wjr2b2 writes:
Where is Jerod Askew is this list of inpact players? Dude is gonna to be a beast!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Very rational outlook. Measurable progress, yes; outhouse to penthouse in one year, no. Unless we have unbelievable luck with the 2010 recruiting class, it will be at least 2011 until we are in the pre-season conversation as more than a long-odds contender for the SEC championship. The reason for that, IMHO, is that our 2010 O-line will be mostly freshmen with maybe a couple of JUCOs, and, almost no matter how good they are, that is hardly a sure-fire prescription for success against the elite SEC defenses.
I agree that we will be hard to handle in any given game from the first game this season, but we are not nearly deep enough, experienced enough, or realistically confident enough to count on season-long excellence yet. It's going to be a great ride in the next couple of years, but it WON'T be a rocket-shot to the top. CLK and staff will need at least couple of years to work all their magic; let's make sure they have our support for the entire process.
oldvolsarge writes:
A little bit off subject, but I just clicked on UT's roster for the first game. Anyone know why Rozier (the pitcher) is not listed on the roster at all.
hotrodvol writes:
Haha sorry y9, I got in a hurry this morning.
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/
wjr2b2 writes:
Anyone know what the status is on Marlon Walls academic issues? Heard he was having similar problems G Williams was having with his courses transferring or something.
mattucket#231689 writes:
QB's that pick this far in advance of signing day flip flop more than a dirty politician. Even if Scroggins picks USC and then come fall when USC is touting the next great California QB and Scroggins is no longer their recruiting darling, expect him to seriously question his decision.
bugman (Inactive) writes:
LOLOLOLOLOLO
"It’s unbelievably refreshing to see such actions out of a Tennessee coach. For so long, I’ve sat witness to an oversized piece of lard. I’ve cursed repeatedly over Chavis’ tendencies to willingly allow opponents to score because: Who really wants to win?"
http://www.dailytarheel.com/sports/ki...
y9since80 writes:
Thanks Hotrod
blitzshoot writes:
Getting Scroggins to commit and play and UT is huge for this squad. You can only go so far with mediocre at QB.
chad_t31 writes:
it'll be an interesting year. Teams have won with a whole lot less than what we have.
go_vols_go writes:
Hopefully we'll have someone to get the ball to him.
gatorzwearstebowpanties writes:
Here's a link to the Nashville Tennessean with an article about Monte Kiffin
http://www.tennessean.com/article/200...
fivewides writes:
I think that's dependant upon which part of a qb's game is mediocre, blitz. You hear all the time that teams can't reach the pinnacle short of a super qb, but I always remember spurrier taking a qb with very mediocre physical talent and producing a NC as well as a heisman winner. That qb's strength was his mind and knowledge of the game, the offense and his role within that offense.
A few teams reach the upper tier of talent consistently and once that happens, it all comes down to preparation and gameday coaching. That ga game in '07 where we embarrassed the dawgs...while one of the sweeeetest games I've ever had the pleasure of attending, was a puzzler. How could we look so inept weeks previous then play like world beaters when Fulmer's job was on the line? The great ones play and prepare every week with that sense of urgency.
I always liked and appreciated Fulmer, but the past few years you could see them getting outmaneuvered on the field pretty consistently....in many cases with superior talent. The offense was never the same minus Cutcliffe either.
I think you'll see this staff make major upgrades in preparation and execution, which should go a long way toward making us competitive again. Will it be enough to overcome mediocrity at qb? Stay tuned...almost time to suit up!
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