Josh Shirley has exactly what Tennessee is looking for in a linebacker.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Shirley, who attends Kaiser High School in Fontana, Calif., has already received a scholarship offer from UT.
Shirley is being recruited by tight ends and tackles coach James Cregg, who told Shirley he would be a perfect fit in UT’s system.
“I can help the program with the way I play,” Shirley said. “My speed works right in with the way they play.”
Shirley said he expects UT’s defense to play well under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Shirley said he’s intrigued by the possibility of playing for Kiffin.
“I’d be learning what former NFL coaches have learned and they’d be passing it down to me,” Shirley said.
Shirley would have to make a long trip from Fontana to Knoxville if he decides to play for UT.
He’s been able to learn what that’s like from Cregg, who coached the last two seasons for the Oakland Raiders.
Cregg grew up on the West Coast and graduated from Norco (Calif.) High School.
“He said he’s seen nothing like it before,” Shirley said of Cregg’s move to Knoxville. “I thought, ‘Wow,’ because I kind of figured it out, but hearing it from someone who’s been out here and gone out east, that’s good information.”
Shirley has plenty of options to consider if he decides to stay on the West Coast.
Shirley has offers from Southern Cal, UCLA, Arizona, Stanford and Washington. He’s also received interest from California and Oregon.
The offer that stands out is from USC, which annually recruits the nation’s best players.
Shirley recognized the honor of receiving an offer from the Trojans.
“They’re a great program,” he said. “They’re aggressive. Everything is up tempo. It’s all good.”
That includes USC’s linebackers. The Trojans had four linebackers selected in this year’s NFL Draft.
Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews were both taken in the first round and Ray Maualuga went early in the second round.
Shirley said a lot of their success is thanks to linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.
“He’s a great linebackers coach,” Shirley said. “He’s played for great teams. It would be good to play under him.”
Shirley, who said distance won’t be a factor in his decision, hasn’t decided which schools he will visit this summer. The only event on his schedule so far is a Scout.com Combine in Los Angeles on May 30.
Shirley said he’s unsure if he’ll be able to visit UT unofficially this summer but he would like to take an official visit during the fall.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 91
midnite__VOL writes:
1
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
Reel them in Coach!!!! Give us some playmakers!!!
wyomingvol writes:
'Shirley you can't be serious....'
Couldn't resist.
Go Vols!!!
jakethevolguy writes:
Come on out and be a Vol, young man, and see what real football is like.
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
Holy phooey!!!!!!! Nice link and amazing stats!! We could use a kid like this!
Coach_Joe writes:
As to be expected. These top notch coaches doing their thing and trying to only get the best. I Love It! Go ahead and commit son.
bigorange61 writes:
I'd be shocked if this California kid comes to Tennessee, but one can hope. Off the subject, but it looks like Coach O is going Hollywood.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/con...
the10sevol writes:
'And don't call me Shirley.'
Same thoughts went through my mind...lol
JBVols1698 writes:
yeah i doubt we get him
1974Vol writes:
He's gonna be a Vol - write it down!
tripper writes:
123 tackles and 17 sacks from his LB spot in 2008.
arkansas_vol writes:
You suck, please go back to the Gator website where you belong loser
rich182x writes:
Any new news on Jake Heaps?
VolInIndy writes:
more than KY can afford after the price they paid for calamari. You guys can now be known as the KY Jelly Fish
MrBamSeydu writes:
Bring it, don't sing it!!!
TommyJack writes:
Bwahahahahahahahahaha
give_him_6 writes:
Holy phooey!! This guy looks like a stud. Go get'em!!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
Regular KNS staff on vacation? All in Branson?
Go4Two writes:
We have pulled several in the past would not be a shock
ctownvol writes:
Save your fingers and time DC. We really don't care what you have or what you turn down. Meyer's philosophy is "Get 'em when they're on work release"
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/12...
golfballs03 writes:
Brian Cushing is a roid head
TommyJack writes:
Disregard him, He's just following orders.
ctownvol writes:
I used to think you had some posts that were worth reading and you were an ok guy, but you're every bit as bad as zz and that waste of oxygen kman. Why are you here?
ctownvol writes:
You're right TJ. He's just here to iritate. What a f'n loser! I'd almost rather have rammerjammer90210 back than this clown.
ctownvol writes:
Trust me Dc. You're team may win, but none of you pansies are beating anybody up. You're obviously a little too light in the loafers to have to worry about that happening.
ctownvol writes:
Sure thing Nancy. I'm glad you enjoy it, but as long as y'all are here it's awful hard for anybody else to enjoy it. This used to be a good informative site. Thanks for ruining it. You're right. I shouldn't read y'alls posts, and I won't.
murrayvol writes:
I'll be shocked if he doesn't.
Thanks for the link. The Blind Side was a great book. Not sure how it'll translate to the big screen.
murrayvol writes:
Thanks ctown. That's such a refreshing link.
murrayvol writes:
Isn't he back as YellowHammer? He's a big fan of TJ. :)
murrayvol writes:
Hate to leave gentlemen but there's an unmistakable stench in the air which tells me this thread is going South. Be well.
ctownvol writes:
I don't make physical challenges. I end them. Quickly. And I get paid well to do just that. Ok little man?
ctownvol writes:
No. She doesn't get it. Too stupid for her own good.
mlynn1 writes:
Come on down to middle tennessee you punk, we'll see how bad you are when you can't hide behinf a computer screen!
JBVols1698 writes:
Al was born in Jackson, Tennessee
TommyJack writes:
Seems to me that KNS987, zz, dc, ac, etc may be one and the same person.
JBVols1698 writes:
you dont live under the bridge by campus in gainesville anymore?
ctownvol writes:
Some little Nopi punk from McDonough is calling someone else "sissy boy"? That's rich. Stay classy Henry County. I'm out.
ctownvol writes:
Bingo.
Ironcity writes:
A little more Saban a little less then your boy Urban. Whatever it takes as long as we don't get caught Gator boy
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Logical.
Derailed.
dvhill100 writes:
A little off subject, but pokking some fun at the Gators:
http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2009/5/1/...
dvhill100 writes:
Try one "k" in poking.
jimr07 writes:
do you have direct information that he is? making an accusation like that is serious. then all of a sudden i realized that it was the king jerk that wrote it.
jimr07 writes:
no, but there aren't any more al wilson's.
jimr07 writes:
why do you care? why does it bother you that we are excited about our coach and our school? are you that lonely?
jimr07 writes:
how does that fit with the article? or are you just that dumb?
mlynn1 writes:
Glad to see you didn't deny being a punk
jimr07 writes:
Al is from Jackson, Tn but lives in Atlanta.
jimr07 writes:
i think you are right. they are here to show how really stupid they are. i could imagine that if you add all their iq's it would not add up to 70
jimr07 writes:
and don't forget that percy harvin was suspeneded for two games because of "migraines." lol.
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