Tennessee’s win against Georgia last Saturday is already paying off in recruiting.
UT received a commitment on Wednesday from junior linebacker A.J. Johnson from Gainesville (Ga.) High School for the signing Class of 2011.
The 6-foot-2, 226-pound Johnson committed to UT after watching the Vols’ 45-19 win against Georgia.
“I came away from that game wanting to commit,” he said. “I was talking to my mom and people and coaches, and they were saying I should go ahead and do it.”
Johnson gave his commitment to UT defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, who visited Gainesville on Wednesday.
Johnson said Orgeron was happy to accept the commitment.
“You know Coach O, he’s always excited,” Johnson said. “He was jumping up and down. He said he had goose bumps.”
Johnson said he had a similar feeling while watching UT’s defense against Georgia.
“They’re always swarming to the ball,” he said. “They have a good atmosphere for playing football. I think I play better when there are more people there.”
Johnson chose UT over offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Clemson, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State.
Noticeably missing from that list is Georgia.
Johnson said the Bulldogs showed interest early in the recruiting process but never offered a scholarship.
Georgia’s hesitation gave UT the advantage.
“That’s probably who I would’ve gone ahead and easily committed to earlier on,” Johnson said of Georgia. “I guess that’s what they say, first come, first serve.”
Johnson said he will likely visit other schools at some point. He said UT’s coaches recommended he do so to make sure he’s comfortable with his commitment.
Johnson is UT’s third commitment for the 2011 class, joining tight end Eric MacLain from Jack Britt High in Fayetteville, N.C., and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson from O. Perry Walker High in New Orleans.
Josh Ward is a freelance contributor.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 115
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
Ah I love what a good game against the Bulldogs will do!
GO VOLS!!!
troken writes:
All part of the plan... The Vols will be back sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!!!
creekroad writes:
Can he play special teams?
HallowedHill writes:
Love to see the visits paying off. Hopefully this is just the start.
midtnfan writes:
Still don't have a QB.
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
Bray....keep up man!
txvolsfan writes:
Tyler Bray
midtnfan writes:
don't get your hopes up. not sec material.
VOL03_NC writes:
Lane Train is "On Time" with possiabe early arrival...
GO VOLS!!!
JSamson7 writes:
Are you a coach?? Obviously not, but what can you expect from someone in Mid TN about football knowledge...
midtnfan writes:
go to maxprep.com and look at who was recruiting him. That is all you need to know. Read for yourself. Why would you put your future in the hands of a kid that was only offered by SDSU.
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
JUCO QB Matt Simms (son of former Giants QB Phil Simms) will be a VOL and his teammate WR Kenbrell Thompkins which Florida is after will be as well. Both want to continue playing on the same team.....it is coming soon....BOOK IT!
TheVolMan writes:
Because Kiffin knows what he is doing and you're an idiot.
CB4VOLZ writes:
so it continues......... GO VOLS
whatcanbrowndoforyou writes:
I love it!! Kiffin says were going to take the state of georgia by storm when it comes to recruiting and less than a week later he is proving it. This is a huge commit for us. He is a real deal at OLB. Welcome to the fast lane son welcome to the fast lane!!!!
midtnfan writes:
Kids go to a JUCO because of grades or they are not very good players. How many JUCO QB's have done well at a major college? not very many.
chaos001 writes:
Considering Bray is beating all of the other elite QB's at camps this year...I'd say he's more than qualified to play in the SEC.
from ESPN:
"Volunteers gain third Class of 2011 Watch Lister in A.J. Johnson
Junior ESPNU 150 Watch List linebacker A.J. Johnson (Gainesville, Ga.) committed to sign as part of Tennessee's Class of 2010 Wednesday, ESPN's JC Shurburtt reports.
Programs including Clemson, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Oklahoma State and Stanford have also offered the 6-foot-3, 216-pound prospect.
Johnson was an rising junior participant at the Atlanta Nike Football Training Camp this offseason.
Defensive tackle Anthony Johnson (New Orleans, La./Walker) and lineman/tight end Eric MacLain (Fayetteville, N.C./Britt), both members of the ESPNU 150 Watch List, are also committed to the Vols for 2011."
NeylandWest writes:
MTSU shouldn't be too worried about us stealing any of their prized recruits. You'll be just fine, buttercup.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
midtnfan- not sec fan material
justincredible369#357762 writes:
The KIFFINATION continues to impress
midtnfan writes:
Oh yes, kif knows what he is doing. keeping it close, moral victories, and singing rocky top all night long. BOZO is great. keep drinking the koolaid.
VolinCalif writes:
Oh yes he is. COM
Second_Year_Vol writes:
He is a one star because they havent ranked 2011 yet. He is one the watch lists for the top 150/100 players in the nation.
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
and you are on here commenting and worried about a 1* WOW
FranklinCo_VOL writes:
I love it when a plan comes together!
Second_Year_Vol writes:
I'd rather be a losing Vol fan than a winning Blue Raider fan anyday. I cant believe there is a MTSU troll on here. Go away.
midtnfan writes:
Aren't you cute, you have no team to speak of so you make personal attacks. don't know where you get the MTSU stuff.
midtnfan writes:
You have no room to talk. being from winchester, home of the fulmer clan. far as we know you might be ole phil yourself.
VolinCalif writes:
not sure he's from MSU
senracjr writes:
I'm ashamed MTSU is even in the state of Tennessee.
Second_Year_Vol writes:
They havent finished ranking them all? Its a work in progress. Mid Ten means Middle Tennessee State University to me, but I could be mistaken. You cant expect them to evaluate everyone all at once, give it time. He will be 4 or 5 star.
midtnfan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Shep818 writes:
Midtnfan- I usually try to ignore your idiotic posts... I really wonder why you even spend time on our website making comments... I would never ever go to another team's website- just lame- whats the point... But since you think Bray is so bad and not SEC material, I would like to let you in on a little info from the ELITE 11 Camp... GO to http://www.gridironstuds.com/blog/200... and read all about our 2010 QB Tyler Bray- He won the Golden Gun Accuracy Award, Most Upside, and finished second behind Jake Heaps in MVP award- this at the ELITE 11 which included the likes of Jesse Scroggins, Montana, Heaps, Gardner- Keep up dooshbag before you come in here talking your ish
GahLee writes:
Love to see this kid on board but man, it is a long way from his signing day, either way the staff continues to impress in the world of recruiting...Go Vols!!!
Shep818 writes:
All this talk about him being a one star according to one site is kind of ridiculous-he is an ESPN 150 Watch List for 2011... he is only in his junior year and he is 6-2 226 at OLB... pretty nasty
senracjr writes:
If you don't want anyone to respond then keep your stupid post to yourself,or better yet go to a page where someone really gives a s--t about your comments.
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
The kid can play but he didn't like the situation at Louisville where he should've been the starter after redshirting his sophomore year I believe it was...after seeing the direction Louisville has gone it looks like he chose correctly....and this has given this kid time to develop a little more...this will be a great get especially bringing this Thompkins kid with him...Simms to Thompkins like Manning to Harrison back in the day....it is a stretch I know.
But anyway haters are going to hate regardless of what fans say to them...or how much factual knowledge is dropped....so keep on being a "Negative Nancy" midtnfan...that is all haters know how to do.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
just noticed on rivals that Jeff Luc has dropped from 5* down to 4* based on his performance. Also Cody Riggs dropped out of their top 100. Just an FYI.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Nice try f_g. 160 tackles as a soph. We'll take him any day.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/foo...
midtnfan writes:
You ignore my post because you can't handle the truth. BOZO is taking you guys down a road to nowhere.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Bray is an elite QB that plays in the middle of nowhere in Cali. That is why the recruiting services weren't on him. Our staff found him and offered him before any other big schools. He said publicly many times after our offer that it would come down to UT or SDSU and I'm sure a lot of schools back off for that reason. His only knock is his weight and footspeed. Both are correctible.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
All 2011 prospects are 0* at this point. Thanks for the link though. Looks like FL was recruiting him too even if they hadn't offered yet.
Bigger_Al writes:
Not overly excited about Simms. We shall see if he develops, but no way he deserved to start in front of Cantwell at U of L...
ozoney#235138 writes:
Why do you guys respond to idiots like this? They're like children who think it's fun to aggravate, and like children if you ignore them, the fun is taken out of it, and they stop. Simple elementary school stuff.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Bama hasn't yet offered but they were recruiting him along with a bunch of other big teams in the South. The kid has prototypical size for a LB and had 160 tackles, 9 TFLs, and 4 sacks as a Soph in HS!!! The kid can play. Tell yourself whatever you need to tell yourself so that you can believe that UT is not on its way back to the top though buddy.
Either way. We are glad to have you AJ. Welcome to Big Orange Country. Go Vols!!
midtnfan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
pammyvol1000 writes:
I'm proud of JC! He deserves some good attention for a change. Thanks JC for such a good game. I really enjoyed the game. Plus, all my jawga friends here are really quiet this week.:)))
TLepage writes:
does anyone know if bray is going to be able to enroll in january or is going to enroll in summer school?
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
Bray will be one of our January enrollment guys... he's already told us that. And whoever suggests the kid isn't good... Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and Tim Tebow weren't rated as high as Jonathon Crompton... McCoy and Bradford were three star guys. Tyler Bray has proven at camps, where he is pitted side by side with top QB recruits, including Scroggins and Blake Bell...and Jake Heaps. He finished second to only Jake Heaps, and he has a more accurate throw than him. We're fine at QB, we might want an extra guy for depth, but that'd be it.
EB4Heisman writes:
If yall dont have a volquest membership they say he is an elite prospect in GA for his class. He had a 160 tackles, 4 sacks, 9 TFL as a sophomore. He's a beast
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