'The Close:
The 2019 recruiting cycle closes in 12 days. Hard to believe. Tennessee is racing toward the close with 3 to (maybe 5) scholarships to give. More about that to follow. With the close of the 2019 cycle, the 2020 recruiting cycle gets cranked up.
Like Tennessee’s staff, I’m already studying 2020 recruiting targets. In the following weeks, we’ll not only have lots of information on 2020 targets but we’ll have analysis too… AND IT'S FREE (to you here at tonybasilio.com thanks to Tony's T Club Members). By the way, I encourage you to join the T Club and support the work Tony does so we can keep this stuff free for all.
First things first. Knowing Tennessee still has work to do with 2019 prospects, let’s look at some take away from this recruiting cycle:
The Positives:
1. Lessons Learned:
The head football coach learned a few hard recruiting lessons in 2018 and he did better in 2019. 2018 was his first opportunity to call the shots from the big chair on signing day. I think he managed the scheduling of official visits and just as importantly more strategically used his in home prospect visits compared to 2018. Advantage Coach Pruitt. Along with other head football coaches, he is still learning how to manage how many prospects to sign in the early signing period (December) and how many to hold until February. This is an ongoing process and is not unique to Coach Pruitt.
I do wonder if prospects will start delaying their decisions and signings until February in subsequent recruiting cycles because of all the coaching movement occurring between the December signing period and the traditional signing date in February. Again, the two signing periods creates a situation that requires ongoing review and management.
2. Prioritize the lines of scrimmage:
The offensive line play for the last two seasons has been abysmal. In fact, offensive line performance has been problematic for this program for the last 4 or 5 years. Name it terrible injuries, bad luck, under performance, poor coaching and poor development, it has not been acceptable. Worst in the league in my opinion. During the early signing period, Tennessee signed four solid offensive line prospects including top 50 offensive tackle prospect Wayna Morris and IMG Academy prospect Chris Aporoghene who is underrated. Tennessee is also the favorite to land 5-star and top 10 offensive line prospect Darnell Wright on February 6. Landing Wright to go along with the other 4 signees gives Tennessee one of its best offensive line recruiting classes in recent history.
Defensive line play was OK last season. However, the defensive line lost all three starters and serviceable backups to graduation. Tennessee added some big bodies to the defensive line in the early signing class including: Junior College prospect Savion Williams (6’4” 315 lbs.) rated the #1 defensive tackle in the country; another junior college prospect Darel Middleton (6’7” 290 lbs.) rated as the #4 defensive tackle in the country; and, former 5 star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon (6’4” 295 lbs.) who is a transfer from Michigan. On paper, these signees represent upgrades to the defensive line. However, the truth is we won't know if these are upgrades until about mid-season 2019.
3. Active in Georgia and North Carolina:
When Tennessee has been at its best, Tennessee goes into neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia and wins recruiting battles. They have done that in this cycle. Of the 21 prospects added through the 2019 class “to date”, 2 are from North Carolina (including 5 star athlete Quavaris Crouch and 4 star cornerback Tyus Fields) and 11 signees hail from the state of Georgia. If things fall Tennessee’s way on February 6, Tennessee could add to both totals. This is a good trend for the VOLS.
4. Find your quarterback of the future
At the end of the 2018 recruiting cycle, I thought a key in 2019 was for Tennessee to find its quarterback of the future. Personally, the rostered quarterbacks don’t move the needle for me. Tennessee has sort of kind of have found their future quarterback. Although Harrison Bailey, another Georgia prospect, is a 2020 prospect, he committed to Tennessee and projects to be a quarterback that will have an immediate impact when he gets to campus.
Bailey was a national recruit when he committed to Tennessee and could attend literally any school in the country. Although he is just committed and not signed and will continue to be recruited by other schools, Bailey appears to be convicted in his choice and is an active recruiter for the 2020 class. Tennessee also signed a 2019 quarterback prospect in Brian Maurer from Ocala, Florida. He has a real opportunity to win the backup quarterback job in 2019 and be serviceable at quarterback until Harrison Bailey gets on campus and is ready to go.
(Side note: I still believe, even with tight scholarship numbers, Tennessee looks into the graduate transfer market for quarterback help. I know this because Tennessee tried to get involved Jalen Hurts but couldn't move the needle with him. There are other graduate transfer quarterbacks looking for new opportunity that could start here . With the signing of Maurer, Tennessee has 3 scholarship quarterbacks on the roster and 2 of them have never taken a snap in a college game. Tennessee is one missed assignment and hit on the quarterback away from struggling to get to a bowl game next season)
5. Roster reconstruction:
Coach Pruitt is well on his way to rebuilding the Tennessee roster. When he stepped on campus, I’m not sure the talent was even comparable to other lower level SEC programs. Tennessee is getting bigger and I believe more athletic at all positions. For instance, the defensive line signees in the 2019 class “average” height and weight wise 6’4.5” 305 lbs. The 2019 offensive lineman signed average 6’5” 315 lbs.
It is hard to evaluate speed and athleticism upgrades signees until you see them compete against other teams. Tennessee has made a concerted effort to upgrade the athleticism at each and every position. From looking at the film of the signees, it appears Tennessee is headed in the right direction in this regard.
The negative
In -State Evaluations
Rivals and 247 Sports presumably the best two services in the country at rating high school and junior college football prospects tabbed 20, 2019 in-state prospects as 4 star prospects. That is a strong number for a state that has historically produced only a handful of highly regarded prospects each recruiting cycle. To date, Tennessee has signed two, instate 4 star prospects in Eric Gray from Memphis and Jackson Lampley from Nashville.
This is disappointing and Coach Pruitt has received a lot of criticism for not signing more in state talent. In defense of the football coach, he inherited a tough situation roster wise at Tennessee. Each of the 25 scholarships takes on a heighten sense of value when you are trying to reconstruct a roster . For that reason, rightly or wrongly he decided to take a really close look at the in state prospects before deciding how hard to recruit them to Tennessee. I 100% understand. However, it is difficult to imagine in state prospects who have signed with schools such as Oregon, Mississippi State, South Carolina, or Georgia, as examples, couldn’t help rebuild the Tennessee roster.
Tennessee still has a major shot at redemption. Tennessee is in the thick of a recruiting battle from Dyersburg linebacker Chris Russell. I personally believe Russell is one of the top 10 prospects in the state of Tennessee. Russell can play all four linebacker positions and can run. Getting a signature from Chris Russell is anything but certain. Texas A&M and to a lesser extent Arkansas are battling Tennessee for Russell.
Looking forward, the in state 2020 class is shaping up as another great year for football talent. Tennessee has already upped its game when it comes to prioritizing in state football prospects in 2020 and 2021. They must do better in state next recruiting cycle. I expect they will.
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The Close - How does Tennessee finish?
So, Tennessee got most of its work done by signing 19 high school and junior college prospects in December. Job well done. Recruiting never stops with this staff and Tennessee supplemented the early signing class by recently adding two significant transfers. First, defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon transferred to Tennessee from Michigan and most Deangelo Gibbs, a transfer from Georgia, both decided to continue their careers at Tennessee. Both are talented prospects and worth the risk. Each is on campus and participating in winter workouts. These are solid roster additions.
Out of high school, Solomon, another Georgia prospect, was one of the most sought after prospects in the country. He was rated as the #2 defensive tackle in the country and a 5 star prospect who ultimately selected Michigan over Alabama and Georgia. Solomon played two years at Michigan. He was a major contributor as a freshman. Injury cut short his sophomore season. He transferred closer to home and has a reasonable chance to be eligible immediately next season pending an appeal to the NCAA. No less than 4 coaches on Tennessee’s staff recruited Solomon when he was in high school. Tennessee lost all its starting defensive line to graduation and a serviceable back up. If Solomon is eligible to play in 2019 and lives up to his recruiting evaluation, he is an immediate starter.
Gibbs, a product of Grayson High School in Georgia, was rated as the #2 athlete in the country by the recruiting services as a senior. He almost signed with Tennessee but instead chose the in state school Georgia. Georgia opted to play Gibbs at defensive back and special teams during his career there. There is a line of thinking A school of out there that Gibbs’ best position in college is wide receiver. He never found a role with Georgia. His time there was plagued by injury and maturity issues. As with Solomon, Gibbs has a comfort level at Tennessee as no less than 5 current coaches have long term relationships with him.
Gibbs will likely redshirt next season and be eligible in 2020. Tennessee loses 3 wide receivers to graduation after the 2019 season. This is a great opportunity for both Tennessee and Gibbs. It doesn’t hurt that Tennessee gave Gibbs, a legend at Grayson High School, a second chance. Grayson is a major feeder program for many a college football programs.
The downside, if there is one, from taking Solomon and Gibbs as transfers is it reduces the scholarships Tennessee has to give in the 2019 cycle. Tennessee can get around this by using a spot or two from the 2020 class to sign a 2019 prospect. I think Tennessee’s staff believes it has laid such a solid foundation for a good recruiting run in 2020 they will be prudent in using spots away from the 2020 class for 2019 prospects.
So on February 6 Tennessee will likely sign 3 prospects and could go to 5 if things play out perfectly.
For those 3 to 5 spots, there are roughly 8 prospects remaining on the board.
If things are going Tennessee’s way these prospects sign.
Darnell Wright, Huntington, West Virginia. If you follow recruiting you know who Darnell Wright is. When Coach Pruitt took the job, Darnell Wright has been the top priority for the 2019 class. Wright is rated as the top offensive tackle prospect in the country, a top 10 ranked prospect at any position, and a five star prospect across all recruiting services. Wright is a mountain of an offensive tackle at 6’6” 320 lbs. with really long arms. He is probably the most SEC ready tackle in the 2019 class. Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, and Georgia from time to time have been in the mix for Wright. The one constant has been Tennessee. Wright has taken one official visit so far that being to West Virginia. His second visit is to Tennessee on February 1. The are no sure bets when it comes to recruiting 17 and 18 year old kids. With that said, Tennessee is in just about as good a shape as you could hope for moving toward signing day.
Chris Russell. Dyersburg, Tennessee. Linebacker who can play all 4 linebacking positions are a priority with this head coach. Russell is a big kid at 6’2” 225 lbs. with 4.4. to 4.5 speed to cover and tackle from sideline to sideline. In my opinion, Russell is just as an important recruit to the 2019 class as Darnell Wright. Russell is a prospect who has gotten better and better during his high school football career and has developed into a prospect SEC teams covet.
One of the things I like about Russell is what I saw in watching tape of signees like Quavaris Crouch, Aaron Beasley, and Jalen McCollough. None of these kids are afraid of contact. Russell is a Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arkansas battle. Russell will take his official visit to Tennessee on February along with Darnell Wright and another in state prospect Kristian Williams.
Henry To'oto'o, Concord, California. To'oto'o is down to Washington, Oregon Alabama, and Tennessee. At 6’2” 230 lbs. To'oto'o is another sideline to sideline type linebacker. It is hard to get a read on where To'oto'o signs. He still has visits to take. Tennessee feels good about its position with the kid and Pruitt gets the last in-home visit with the family . Hats off the Kevin Simon and Brian Niedermeyer for having Tennessee right in the thick of this recruitment at the wire . There is no denying that Tennessee offers the kid the fastest pathway to the playing field and this is something Tennessee has continue to emphasize.
Jammie Robinson, Leesburg, Georgia. Robinson was the leader of a Lee County high school team who won the 6A State champion in Georgia. Lee County had the best defense in the state of Georgia last season holding teams to an average of 5 points per game. For the season, Robinson totaled 105 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss and a pair of Interceptions during the season. He also averaged over 30 yards per kick return. Robinson visited Tennessee last weekend. Tennessee was his last official visit.
Tennessee is trending with Robinson right now. Robinson is the type of prospect you Tennessee has a spot for him. He is a talented kid who in my opinion will have an opportunity to contribute immediately . Robinson is down to four schools. Tennessee along with Auburn, South Carolina, and Kentucky.
If things aren’t falling Tennessee’s way
Dywan Griffin. New Orleans, Louisiana. At 6’2” 185 lbs., Griffin is a speedy wide receiver/defensive back and a top 25 prospect in the state of Louisiana. From watching the limited film available on Griffin, he seems like a better defensive back than wide receiver though Tennessee is recruiting him as a wide receiver. Griffin visited Tennessee last weekend. Griffin is down Tennessee's list a bit and a back-up option if things go south for Tennessee on signing day.
Kristian Williams, Southwind High School, Memphis, Tennessee. Williams is defensive tackle from Memphis Southwind. Williams’ recruitment has been odd. I expected Williams to commit to Tennessee during the summer and he had a chance to. However, Williams decided to extend his recruitment. A number of SEC schools such as LSU and Mississippi State got involved only to eventually move on to other prospects. Tennessee turned its attention elsewhere. Only recently, Tennessee has circled back and gotten reengaged with Williams. A week before the early signing period and a surprise to most, Williams publicly announced he was signing with Minnesota. Then, he didn’t sign with Minnesota. Fast forward to January. Williams had an official visit scheduled to Tennessee last weekend. Then as fast as it was scheduled it was cancelled.
Now, he is scheduled to visit Oregon this weekend but there are questions as to whether that visit will occur. And, there is talk Williams is planning a February 1 official visit to Knoxville.
There are 2 certainties with Williams. The first is he is not going to sign with Minnesota (Minnesota has moved on even though Williams is publicly committed to them) The second is literally no one knows what his visit plans are for the next two weekends.
Williams has visited Tennessee unofficially many times. He is familiar with our staff. He had a so so senior season which is the reason a number of schools have cooled on their pursuit of him. If Tennessee misses on a couple of its higher rated targets, it isn’t out of the range of possibilities that Tennessee could pick up the phone on signing day and tell Williams he has a spot regardless of whether he takes an official visit or not.
LeDarrius Cox , McGill Toolen High School, Mobile, Alabama. Cox is committed to Tennessee and has been since May of last year. Cox is certainly big enough ( 6’4” 300 lbs.) and plays a position of need (defensive tackle) but the relationship between Tennessee and Cox since his commitment is best characterized as casual. Rumors have persisted that Tennessee and Cox have parted ways. However, Cox took his official visit two weeks ago and left that visit proclaiming that he would sign with Tennessee on signing day. Cox has a spot with Tennessee if a couple of prospects on the list above choose to go elsewhere. Cox has two official visits to SEC schools Auburn and Ole Miss left. I don’t know where he signs but I don’t think he signs with Tennessee.
Julian Hawkins, Lake Cormorant High School, Lake Cormorant, Mississippi. Hawkins is a 6’3” 275 lb. prospect who projects as a strongside defensive end at Tennessee. Hawkins received an offer from Tennessee late as in just two weeks ago and visited Tennessee last weekend. Though Hawkins is a bit under the radar Florida State and Auburn are also involved with Hawkins is an intriguing prospect. He is a big kid who can run that plays at a small rural school in Mississippi. Not a place recruiters normally flock to. Apparently, Tennessee wants one more big bodied defensive lineman in this class. Not sure how they are able to fit that in this class given their limited numbers if things fall their way.
Kenny Solomon, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Solomon is an under the radar cornerback/wide receiver prospect who had a very good senior season but has not been heavily recruited. Tennessee spotted him during a post season all-star game while checking in on a couple of their North Carolina prospects. Tennessee is recruiting him as an athlete and primarily because of his 4.3 speed. Solomon is a good prospect. If things fall Tennessee’s way, Solomon ends up signing at another school.
The wild cards:
Anthony Harris, Havelock High School, Havelock, North Carolina. The Harris recruitment has not been as much about being odd as it has been about being really quiet. Harris committed to Tennessee in June. Tennessee bested schools such as North Carolina, NC State, Clemson, and Oklahoma among others for Harris' commitment. Harris has been on campus a couple of times for unofficial visits and even though a number of schools have pursued him he remains committed to Tennessee. Anthony Harris in my opinion is simply the best athlete in Tennessee’s class. He projects in college as a free safety or wide receiver. I’m not saying Harris is a Deon Grant/Dale Carter caliber player. Athletically Harris has a similar long athletic frame as both did. A couple of interesting facts about Harris. Other than Quavaris Crouch and Wayna Morris, Harris is highest-ranked player in the class. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Harris is rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 11 safety, and the number 147 overall prospect. Harris needs to finish up this semester strong and get all his academics in order. For that reason, I don’t expect Harris to take an official visit to Tennessee though I do expect him to sign with Tennessee and enroll either in the summer or fall when his remaining academic issues are cleaned up . Harris’ spot would likely count against the 2020 class but it would be worth it to borrow from 2020 for a dynamic athlete who fits a position of need. I understand why Tennessee is willing to part with a 2020 spot for the kid.
Jahkeem Green, Highland Community College, Highland, Kansas. Green is a 6’4” 305 lb. defensive tackle taking an official visit to Tennessee this weekend. Green has been committed to South Carolina since last March. Green’s primary recruiter was Lance Thompson. Thompson and South Carolina recently parted ways. Although late in the recruiting cycle, Green has reopened his recruitment. Green is rated as the #2 JUCO defensive tackle in the country. Defensive line is a huge position of need. Tennessee appears to have an opportunity flip a really good prospect at a position of need. I don’t know how work the numbers if Green wants in. This would be a really nice problem for this staff to have.
George Pickens, Hoover High School, Hoover, Alabama. Pickens is a really long shot. First, Pickens hasn’t visited Tennessee. I don’t think he will visit before signing day unless it’s an unofficial visit. Also, Pickens has long been committed to Auburn though he chose not to sign with Auburn during the early signing period. Auburn tried to lock down Pickens, get him to sign early, but the kid opted to take visits in January. Bad news for Auburn.
Pickens is an elite receiver prospect, a 5-star prospect, and one of the top receivers in the country. However, Pickens is a risky signee. The issue with Pickens, and there is no way to sugar coat this, is academics. There are many who think even with a strong academic semester Pickens is headed to junior college. A school that brings Pickens in for an official visit and ultimately signs him is taking a big risk if he doesn’t qualify. Tennessee’s pursuit of Pickens has run hot and cold.. Tennessee, is trying to rebuild its roster and win football games that matter at the same time. I’m not sure Tennessee is willing to risk a scholarship by signing a prospect it may lose as an academic casualty. Too many good prospects on their board to take that approach. At this writing its anyone’s guess whether Pickens will take a visit to Tennessee the week of February 1 or not.
And Finally……… If things go Tennessee’s way of February 6 and Tennessee signs the 3 to 5 prospects at the top of their board, rankings wise the class will be close to a top 10 class. If you factor in the transfers of Aubrey Solomon and DeAngelo Gibbs, this is a solid close for a team with who salvaged a 5 and 7 season with limited talent, a limited quarterback, and a coach learning on the job. Sure, Coach Pruitt would like to have a couple of do-overs with respect to in state recruiting. A couple of in state prospects Tennessee seemed to passed on could have added value to the class. I’m not going to beat this coach or his staff up over this. The head coach is growing into the position. However, this guy is in his element when he has his recruiting hat on. He’ll grow through whatever perceived mistakes have been made. For that reason, I expect his 2020 class will be his best yet at Tennessee.
Since the season ended, a seasoned offensive coordinator in Jim Chaney has been added to the staff. Jim Chaney by some accounts is the best offensive coordinator in the SEC. Adding Coach Chaney should allow Coach Pruitt to devote his time exclusively to defensive things.
Plus Coach Pruitt has upgraded the staff by adding Tee Martin.
Tee Martin is one of the top recruiters in the country. Martin is well thought in high schools throughout Georgia and Alabama. Both are prime recruiting areas for Tennessee. From a coaching perspective, Martin has taken many a high school athlete and turned them into professional football players. And, don’t be surprised if more staff changes happen between signing day and the beginning of spring practice.
Tony will be announcing information for our live broadcast in the upcoming days....... We should probably sneak in an X-Cast before Signing Day.
Til then, stay tuned and consider supporting us monthly here.
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