Tennessee's football complex either has gotten or will get a visit from at least three regional prospects this weekend.
Derek King was the first of a trio of prospects on campus this weekend, departing UT on Friday.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete has scholarship offers from UT, Auburn, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Virginia, Kansas Louisville, Memphis, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Duke, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
King has excelled at tailback and on special teams at Brentwood Academy. He told the News Sentinel this week that UT is recruiting him as a defensive back and kick returner.
Safety Pat Martin visited UT on Friday and was scheduled to depart today. Martin is from J.L. Mann High School in Greenville, S.C., and is considered one of the top defensive back prospects in the Southeast.
The 5-11, 195-pounder has scholarship offers from several schools, including UT, LSU, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Stephon Tuitt was scheduled to visit Knoxville today. The 6-5, 260-pound defensive end is rated as one of the top prospects in the nation.
Tuitt, who is from Monroe (Ga.) Area High School, has more than a dozen scholarship offers.
Shaq Attack: Rumors persisted Friday that Shaq Mason had de-committed from Georgia Tech and committed to UT. That was not the case, according to a report by InsideTennessee.com.
The 6-2, 305-pound offensive lineman from Columbia Central High School committed to the Yellow Jackets earlier this month.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 25
rockytopatl writes:
They need to make that Shaq rumor true. We need big nasties, lots of 'em and fast.
RJP11 writes:
What if we inked Shaq Mason & Shaquille Love? Rather than a "strong-side" we could have an "all-Shaq" side of our OL ... how could that be bad?
TnTravelerVol writes:
CDD keeps plugging along. Go get us some recruits coach!
Go Vols
oskie_score writes:
For those interested, Rivals rates Tuitt 4*, Martin 4* and King 3* although I venture to say that barring serious injury when Signing Day rolls around that 3* will have become a 4*.
CDD is staying true to his recruiting philosophy. King would be a nice in-state p/u. Charlie Strong (talented coach & gifted defensive mind) has already offered.
With a glaring deficiency and early playing time as an enticement puzzled as to the lack of serious consideration and/or interest by high-profile O-linemen.
+7 months to NSD.
tnsportsman writes:
Good post and information Rich. I hope you are right and UT gets at least 3 of the 4 players!
CDD and Staff is doing OK! I feel good about this year and the future for the VOLS!
GO VOLS, WE ARE UT!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Love to see the vols pull in kids from So.Carolina and GA. Over the years it has been our bread and butter..Gotta hold on to the in state talent..Bama always has their big nose in our best homegrown talent.
orangecountyvols writes:
Rich,
Good comments. So many say CDD can't recruit, can't do this, blah, blah, blah. But, slowly, ever so slowly things may be happening. Vols may not get but one or two, maybe more, but over the long haul, more and more good things can very well take place.
The long haul...........that's what it's all about.
hueypilot writes:
Rich,
Austin's blog had little bit about Justin Wilcox. Just wondered your take on this: Boise St. has not had a recruiting class ranked higher than 60th (Rivals) in the past 5 classes, yet last year held Oregon to 1 TD and TCU 30 points under their average score in the Fiesta.
Granted they didn't have to play an SEC schedule, but how much importance can you place in a creative defensive coach that obviously has been able to get a lot out of less than stellar talent? The few times I watched them last year I was impressed with defensive penetration and disruption in the O backfield.
I think he might be the most important ingredient in the rebuilding and I am looking forward to how his defense performs in the SEC.
nicknack1 writes:
this is just something I heard, but is Seantrel Henderson on campus?
kdaff51 writes:
Call it the "Shaqqy Side".
DaddyVol writes:
Granted, our offense has huge question marks.
But does anyone know where our defense ranks this year?
Seems like it should be fairly strong, and with a freshman kicker who can chip them in from 60 yards...that could keep us in a few close games.
Any thoughts???
Pompey writes:
You will have an opportunity to see just how smart this Shaq is.....ACC or SEC?
AncientVol writes:
Are they still telling Bryce Brown he'd be welcome back? I say forget him. He abandoned his team mates. We already have four very good running backs: Poole, Oku, Williams, and Neal.
DaddyVol writes:
Soooo...where do we get beat if we can keep it close going into the 4th quarter?
A solid defense (albeit a slight depth problem), an NFL kicker in the waiting, and an underrated offense that will rely on a bevy of fast receivers to get the ball outside to. That may open up the running inside.
I just have this gut feeling that we could start the season 3-0. If (a big IF) that were to happen, gained confidence and a sudden interest in our program from recruits sitting on the fence...just might solidify the situation and make the next 8 games or so very interesting???
Someone...anyone...show me how this scenario is not possible?
DaddyVol writes:
But only if you are an engineering major, and they (GT) doesn't send Astronauts to space.
Also...TENNESSEE is completing work on a huge new addition to our engineering building.
DaddyVol writes:
This is hilarious. Saw this on a blog this morning...
Lane Kiffin: "Seantrel, look at me, I am gorgeous, would I lie to you? These sanctions are going to be overturned."
Eddie Orgeron: "Seantrel, LISTEN!, this is nothing man, c'mon, wanna see me shirtless?"
Mike Garrett calls..."Seantrel, to be honest, everyone is just jealous of us, wanna see Snoop?"
Lane Kiffin: "So what's it going to be Seantrel?"
Henderson: "Okay, I'm in, Coach Kiffin, would you mind putting on your bikini?"
Of course we all wish Seantrel the best wherever he goes, but hope the big guy chooses Tennessee. It's all in fun.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Love your positive thinking. Hope we can get at least a couple of these boys.
Down_The_Field writes:
thanks, rich.
9 out of the top 10 are lineman. i'd like to have 1 and 4.
Mobbdeep4life writes:
Thanks for the info on John Brown. I've been interested in finding out if he would be eligible. He will definitely be an integral part of the D-line due to lack of depth and lack of experience. He at least has experience playing in junior college.
Mobbdeep4life writes:
Quite a few quality players on that list that are interested in Tennessee. Being a little selfish I do hope that UT offers Terry Redden from Whitehaven High School in Memphis. I know his family and it would be great to finally have his grandfather sincerely root for Tennessee. Not to mention my uncle (who is also his uncle) would also root for UT as well. I've caught plenty of heck from family members these past few years and him signing with UT would help. I also have seen him play and he is really good.
Mobbdeep4life writes:
Anything is possible. On any given Saturday anyone can get beat. That's one of the reasons I love college football is because of the upsets and the unknown. A team gets turnover happy and the other team capitalizes next thing you know there is an upset. The positive is that UT plays its first four games at home. Anything can happen at home too.
ChuyitoDawg writes:
Tuitt and Drew will both stay in state.
Tuitt will end up at Tech. Academics play a role and his Mom is all in for Tech. Kind of hard not to listen to Mom. Great talent and a great kid, it will be hard to pull him away from Tech.
Drew is all UGA. He's having fun with the recruiting process but in the end he ends up a Dawg. Drew relates with the coaching staff and has the same values and beliefs. Mr. Drew is actually a "Junior Minister" in his hometown. We all know Richt's faith has been well documented. People don't know that Drew almost commited to UGA back in the beggining of the year. It's only a matter of time.
Good luck on the trail to UT and Dooley.
GoVols84 writes:
We may have the inside track on King. I believe that his High School running back coach at Brentwood Academy is Kursten Biggers, who played RB for us in the late 90's.
Volunatic writes:
Tuitt sounds like he would be a great one to get-- I hope he chooses Tennessee.
Besides, I would love to hear Tim Priest say "Those opposing running backs and quarterbacks just can't get around Tuitt."
Volunatic writes:
That would be awesome-- a step forward in getting all the top in-state players.
GO VOLS!!!
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