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Wu's very own recruiting thread.
- Thread starter Scotty's Flat Top
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Seems like this guy will be really helped out by an intense college weight room. He isn't out of shape, just looks a little sloppy, if that makes sense.
Predicting that a guy can put on 30 pounds AND have a chance to play early is big time, IMO. A big, athletic Guard can become an absolute mauler in a hurry.
Predicting that a guy can put on 30 pounds AND have a chance to play early is big time, IMO. A big, athletic Guard can become an absolute mauler in a hurry.
wU-Tang Vol
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Roanoke (Va.) Northside offensive tackleChance Hall*didn’t hesitate as he reached forward and picked up the University ofTennessee*hat on the table in front of him.*
“I feel very relieved, and very happy to be part of the Vol family,” said Hall, who also held offers from*Virginia,*Vanderbilt,*North Carolina, andNotre Dame*among others. “The past couple of days I have been thinking about it, and then mainly last night is when I had it narrowed down to Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Then I just made my decision.”*
The 6-foot-5, 283-pound tackle said there were several key factors that helped the Vols edge out Vanderbilt for his commitment.*
“I just felt at home at Tennessee,” Hall said. “I loved the coaching staff at Tennessee, and the big thing was the atmosphere at there, I just loved it.”*
Hall specifically talked about his relationship with offensive line coach Don Mahoney.*
“He played another big role in it [my decision],” Hall said. “Wanting to play offensive line there and having talked to some of the players, they all said a lot of good things about coach [Don] Mahoney. He is just like a father figure and that was also a big part of my decision.”*
While the atmosphere and the coaching staff played major roles in Hall’s decision, he said the most influential factor was actually incoming freshman and projected right tackle,*Coleman Thomas, who is also from Hall’s home state of Virginia.*
“I asked him a lot of questions and we hung out when I went to the ‘Orange Carpet’,” Hall said. “We’ve actually been in touch a lot, just talking about things. That was a big part of my decision.”*
So what does Hall think about the possibility of having the Volunteers offensive line anchored by two Virginia natives?*
“It is awesome,” Hall said. “It will be really exciting to be able to play with him.”*
The Vikings standout said he hopes to return to campus at some point this summer for an overnight visit, and if not, he will definitely be back for a game this fall.*
Hall is a three-star prospect and the 87th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2015 class.
“I feel very relieved, and very happy to be part of the Vol family,” said Hall, who also held offers from*Virginia,*Vanderbilt,*North Carolina, andNotre Dame*among others. “The past couple of days I have been thinking about it, and then mainly last night is when I had it narrowed down to Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Then I just made my decision.”*
The 6-foot-5, 283-pound tackle said there were several key factors that helped the Vols edge out Vanderbilt for his commitment.*
“I just felt at home at Tennessee,” Hall said. “I loved the coaching staff at Tennessee, and the big thing was the atmosphere at there, I just loved it.”*
Hall specifically talked about his relationship with offensive line coach Don Mahoney.*
“He played another big role in it [my decision],” Hall said. “Wanting to play offensive line there and having talked to some of the players, they all said a lot of good things about coach [Don] Mahoney. He is just like a father figure and that was also a big part of my decision.”*
While the atmosphere and the coaching staff played major roles in Hall’s decision, he said the most influential factor was actually incoming freshman and projected right tackle,*Coleman Thomas, who is also from Hall’s home state of Virginia.*
“I asked him a lot of questions and we hung out when I went to the ‘Orange Carpet’,” Hall said. “We’ve actually been in touch a lot, just talking about things. That was a big part of my decision.”*
So what does Hall think about the possibility of having the Volunteers offensive line anchored by two Virginia natives?*
“It is awesome,” Hall said. “It will be really exciting to be able to play with him.”*
The Vikings standout said he hopes to return to campus at some point this summer for an overnight visit, and if not, he will definitely be back for a game this fall.*
Hall is a three-star prospect and the 87th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2015 class.
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Coming in the next week are two of the summer’s premier events with the Elite 11 on July 6 and The Opening on July 7-10 in Beaverton, Ore. The event includes 162 of the “most outstanding football players from across the country,” including seven from the fast-rising Volunteer State. Tennessee commits Cecil Cherry and Preston Williams will attend. Numerous Vols targets are scheduled to be at NIKE Headquarters as well, including Te’Von Coney, Torrance Gibson, K.J. Hill, Van Jefferson, Christian Kirk, Isaiah Langley, Bryce Love, Keisean Lucier-South, Rico McGraw (Georgia commit), Kahlil McKenzie, Mook Reynolds, Drew Richmond, Calvin Ridley, Quarte Sapp, Tim Settle, Roquan Smith, Josh Sweat and junior cornerback Levonta Taylor.
The name that sticks out is the west’s top prospect, McKenzie, who’s slated to make his public declaration during the final day of the event. Scout.com will have complete coverage of the five-star’s choice, why he made it, an analysis of what he provides that university and highlights of him going up against the country’s best offensive linemen.
Here’s the latest on McKenzie from Scout national analyst Greg Biggins: “The (Arizona) Wildcats’ emergence for McKenzie has surprised many nationally but the big tackle fell in love with the school on his spring unofficial visit. Tennessee has been the odds-on favorite since early in the process. His father and uncle both played for the Vols and UT really rolled out the red carpet when he visited the campus. All signs still point to Tennessee right now but it may not be the slam dunk a lot of people think.”
Should McKenzie pick Arizona over the Vols it may cause one of the greatest meltdowns amongst recruiting junkies an SEC program has ever seen. McKenzie consistently boasts about the Big Orange on Twitter and the program launched a social media campaign involving a bucket hat at different places on campus. Bucket hats and McKenzie have become synonymous. Another factor to keep in mind his his friendship with Gibson, who had a conversation with Butch Jones on Thursday. Sources extremely close to the recruitment of both say there’s a solid chance Gibson and McKenzie wind up at the same school. The two have discussed that option in spite of living on opposite ends of the country.
Gibson committed to The Opening as an “athlete” and figures to see time at both quarterback and wideout.
For Cherry and Williams, The Opening, is a chance to prove their worth on a national stage. Cherry started the rankings process with Scout as a four-star but dropped to three-star status not terribly long after his pledge. However, he’s right on the heels of some linebackers that leapfrogged him. If Cherry can make plays in space, perhaps he can get that star back.
With all Scout national analysts and director of scouting Scott Kennedy on hand, McKenzie and Williams both get a great opportunity to show that they should be the No. 1 overall prospect in the country. McKenzie obliterated offensive linemen at the Oakland NIKE Football Training Camp, drawing heavy praise from Kennedy. Williams called out cornerback after cornerback at the Atlanta NFTC and all but embarrassed No. 1-rated cornerback Kevin Toliver, who is still seven spots ahead of Williams in the Scout 100.
Tennessee quarterback commit Quinten Dormady spoke with IT about any potential worry with the Vols adding another QB between now and National Signing Day: “Not really. I’m confident with how I play, and I think I fit the system fairly well. Like I said, I just want to help the team in any way that I can.”
Another athlete that could contribute to a variety of roles on the college level is Jocquez Bruce, who committed to the Big Orange in June. He told IT he won’t ask for preferential treatment at South-Doyle High School his senior season to get him best suited for any particular position at Tennessee.
“The same offense, and I’ll be used the same way,” Bruce said. “Ain’t nothing gonna change. We’re still the same ole South-Doyle. I’m still the same Joc. Ain’t nothing gonna change.”
Add yet another son of a famous father to the Tennessee recruiting radar as junior offer-holding running back Elijah Holyfield made his way to campus in June after getting his offer earlier this year.
Zach Gilbert, Van Jefferson, Kahlil McKenzie and Nigel Warrior are all sons of ex-NFL veterans. Holyfield’s father is Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, who defeated James “Buster” Douglas in 1990 to become a world heavyweight boxing champion.
“People always ask about him,” Elijah said of his father, “but I know how good he was so I know. It’s kind of nice to know that my Dad was so good at something that people are still talking about him.”
The runner boasts offers from some of the better programs in the country and figures to make his own mark on the sporting world in due time.
One side note to the addition of three-star offensive tackle Chance Hall to the now-No. 9-ranked commitment list that's 19 players deep, Jack Jones ranks in by Scout as the No. 28 tackle in the nation but has told IT more than once that he sees his college future at either center or guard.The group's first pledge, Zach Stewart, is an interior offensive lineman as well. Expectations are for Tennessee to sign another pure tackle to go with that trio.
Lawrence Cager (6-5, 189) is a three-star senior wideout from Baltimore. Cager is making a swing through the South in mid-July and plans to camp at Tennessee. He does not currently have a committable offer and will attempt to earn one that day. With little room in the class for adding pass-catchers, Cager must have a spectacular day with the O&W staff looking on.
Jerome Baker is one of the highest rated linebackers in the country and recently listed Tennessee as one of his top 8 schools with a declaration expected this month. However, Ohio State is expected to be the landing point for Baker. Look for the Vols to add one more 'backer to go with Cherry and Austin Smith.
Volunteer State football continues to get more national exposure as the prep talent on the state improves yearly. Circle Aug. 24 on your calendars. Blackman and Vols commit Jauan Jennings take on Oakland and Tennessee commits Jack Jones and Kyle Oliver with kickoff coming on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CST.
As we noted in last week’s volume of Gate 21, FBS programs are in the midst of the newly implemented June-July NCAA Dead Period. This one commenced June 30 and lasts until July 13. The staff has taken full advantage as coach Jones returned home to Michigan. Recruiting coordinator Zach Azzanni took his family to North Carolina. Etc.
The name that sticks out is the west’s top prospect, McKenzie, who’s slated to make his public declaration during the final day of the event. Scout.com will have complete coverage of the five-star’s choice, why he made it, an analysis of what he provides that university and highlights of him going up against the country’s best offensive linemen.
Here’s the latest on McKenzie from Scout national analyst Greg Biggins: “The (Arizona) Wildcats’ emergence for McKenzie has surprised many nationally but the big tackle fell in love with the school on his spring unofficial visit. Tennessee has been the odds-on favorite since early in the process. His father and uncle both played for the Vols and UT really rolled out the red carpet when he visited the campus. All signs still point to Tennessee right now but it may not be the slam dunk a lot of people think.”
Should McKenzie pick Arizona over the Vols it may cause one of the greatest meltdowns amongst recruiting junkies an SEC program has ever seen. McKenzie consistently boasts about the Big Orange on Twitter and the program launched a social media campaign involving a bucket hat at different places on campus. Bucket hats and McKenzie have become synonymous. Another factor to keep in mind his his friendship with Gibson, who had a conversation with Butch Jones on Thursday. Sources extremely close to the recruitment of both say there’s a solid chance Gibson and McKenzie wind up at the same school. The two have discussed that option in spite of living on opposite ends of the country.
Gibson committed to The Opening as an “athlete” and figures to see time at both quarterback and wideout.
For Cherry and Williams, The Opening, is a chance to prove their worth on a national stage. Cherry started the rankings process with Scout as a four-star but dropped to three-star status not terribly long after his pledge. However, he’s right on the heels of some linebackers that leapfrogged him. If Cherry can make plays in space, perhaps he can get that star back.
With all Scout national analysts and director of scouting Scott Kennedy on hand, McKenzie and Williams both get a great opportunity to show that they should be the No. 1 overall prospect in the country. McKenzie obliterated offensive linemen at the Oakland NIKE Football Training Camp, drawing heavy praise from Kennedy. Williams called out cornerback after cornerback at the Atlanta NFTC and all but embarrassed No. 1-rated cornerback Kevin Toliver, who is still seven spots ahead of Williams in the Scout 100.
Tennessee quarterback commit Quinten Dormady spoke with IT about any potential worry with the Vols adding another QB between now and National Signing Day: “Not really. I’m confident with how I play, and I think I fit the system fairly well. Like I said, I just want to help the team in any way that I can.”
Another athlete that could contribute to a variety of roles on the college level is Jocquez Bruce, who committed to the Big Orange in June. He told IT he won’t ask for preferential treatment at South-Doyle High School his senior season to get him best suited for any particular position at Tennessee.
“The same offense, and I’ll be used the same way,” Bruce said. “Ain’t nothing gonna change. We’re still the same ole South-Doyle. I’m still the same Joc. Ain’t nothing gonna change.”
Add yet another son of a famous father to the Tennessee recruiting radar as junior offer-holding running back Elijah Holyfield made his way to campus in June after getting his offer earlier this year.
Zach Gilbert, Van Jefferson, Kahlil McKenzie and Nigel Warrior are all sons of ex-NFL veterans. Holyfield’s father is Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, who defeated James “Buster” Douglas in 1990 to become a world heavyweight boxing champion.
“People always ask about him,” Elijah said of his father, “but I know how good he was so I know. It’s kind of nice to know that my Dad was so good at something that people are still talking about him.”
The runner boasts offers from some of the better programs in the country and figures to make his own mark on the sporting world in due time.
One side note to the addition of three-star offensive tackle Chance Hall to the now-No. 9-ranked commitment list that's 19 players deep, Jack Jones ranks in by Scout as the No. 28 tackle in the nation but has told IT more than once that he sees his college future at either center or guard.The group's first pledge, Zach Stewart, is an interior offensive lineman as well. Expectations are for Tennessee to sign another pure tackle to go with that trio.
Lawrence Cager (6-5, 189) is a three-star senior wideout from Baltimore. Cager is making a swing through the South in mid-July and plans to camp at Tennessee. He does not currently have a committable offer and will attempt to earn one that day. With little room in the class for adding pass-catchers, Cager must have a spectacular day with the O&W staff looking on.
Jerome Baker is one of the highest rated linebackers in the country and recently listed Tennessee as one of his top 8 schools with a declaration expected this month. However, Ohio State is expected to be the landing point for Baker. Look for the Vols to add one more 'backer to go with Cherry and Austin Smith.
Volunteer State football continues to get more national exposure as the prep talent on the state improves yearly. Circle Aug. 24 on your calendars. Blackman and Vols commit Jauan Jennings take on Oakland and Tennessee commits Jack Jones and Kyle Oliver with kickoff coming on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CST.
As we noted in last week’s volume of Gate 21, FBS programs are in the midst of the newly implemented June-July NCAA Dead Period. This one commenced June 30 and lasts until July 13. The staff has taken full advantage as coach Jones returned home to Michigan. Recruiting coordinator Zach Azzanni took his family to North Carolina. Etc.
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Seldom to average-at-best ball carriers evolve into Southeastern Conference game changers. If universities want elite skill at running back, they must recruit it.
Tennessee*by securing the commitment ofAlvin Kamara*on June 21.
“Really I just felt like it was a good fit —*closer to home, have a lot of friends that go there and felt like they were genuine and they believe in what they were telling me,” Kamara told InsideTennessee. “I felt like I could trust what they were saying.”
If recruiting targets aren’t talking about the family atmosphere generated by Tennessee second-year coach Butch Jones, they’re talking about his outlook on the future. Where Jones sees the Vols program over the next several years entices Kamara, who is now at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College after signing with Alabama in 2013 following a standout career at Norcross (Ga.) High School.
“Coach Jones, he’s really passionate about his job and what he’s doing,” the Scout four-star prospect said. “He really wants to bring Tennessee back to the*Phillip Fulmer*days when they were on top of the SEC. He’s real passionate about it, and I like that because I want to be a part of something special and I want to be a part of a comeback. Me and coach Jones, we’ve talked a lot and I kind of think we’re on the same level of understanding of the future of Tennessee and the future of college football. He’s really trying to move mountains, so I like that about him.”
The Blue Dragon running back said with his proximity in the Jayhawk Conference to the western portion of the country, more Pac-12 schools got involved with his recruitment this time around such as Arizona and USC to go with Georgia, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin. In the end, the Big Orange simply had too many positives to pass up.
Kamara's pledge gave the Big Orange 14 verbal commitments for the 2015 signing class. Since then, Tennessee added five more commitments and the class ranks No. 9 nationally as of July 5. He joins three-starRocky Reid*in the group at running back.
The former Under Armour All-American joined U.S. Army All-American runners Derek Henry,*Tyren Jones*and*Altee Tenpenny*in the Crimson Tide’s star-studded ’13 class.
A knee injury slowed Kamara early into his one season at Alabama after being named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Mr. Football for the 2012 season. He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. His time in Tuscaloosa prepared him for what lies ahead on Rocky Top.
“Physically, when you get to college football and especially in the SEC, everybody is a freak in some way,” Karmara said. “Somebody is faster, a lot of people are bigger, and it’s just grown men. You’ve got to take that weightroom and that training seriously. At Alabama, I really got serious in the weightroom. I already was, but I really took it to a new level and tried to sculpt out my body from a running aspect and training and working hard. I feel like I learned a lot from being at ‘Bama just from a physical aspect and how you have to train to compete on that level.
“I already feel good going into Hutch and going into Tennessee because I already know how it’s going to be at Tennessee. Of course, they’re going to do it different, but I have a good idea.”
Tennessee signed*Jabo Lee*in its 2013 class, but he never saw a practice in Knoxville and attends Temple. From its 2012 class, all three backs —*Davante Bourque,*Alden Hilland*Quenshaun Watson*—*are no longer with the team.
On the current roster as running backs for Team 118 are seniors*Marlin Lane*andDevrin Young*with freshmen*Jalen Hurd,Treyvon Paulk*and*Derrell Scott.*Justus Pickett*sat out last fall after transferring from Maryland.
“Yeah, I looked at the depth chart because to be honest with you, there’s only one football,” Kamara said. “A lot of schools are like, ‘Oh, we’re going to get you the ball this way and that way,’ but you can kind of weed out what’s real and what’s not.
“Looking at Tennessee, they were like, ‘We want you to come in,’ and they explained the depth chart to me. I was like, ‘OK.’ It adds up because there’s not going to be a whole lot of people on the depth chart. Me coming in, I’ll be the oldest running back in the room.”
That group is led by running backs coach Robert Gillespie, who Kamara says is “one of the biggest reasons I committed.”
“One of the differences this time around (with recruiting) was I was really looking for a relationship with my position coach because I didn’t really have that at Alabama. I didn’t really have a great relationship with my position coach. Coach G, I’ve really tried to spend a lot of time getting to know him. I went to Tennessee before I committed to try to hang around him and see how he was. He is a guy that does not change. He’s the same 24/7 and that’s what I really liked about him. He won’t try to sugarcoat anything; he’ll tell you how it is, and I like that about him. He’s a younger guy and played at Florida, played the position. That plays into it a lot.”
In 2012, with Kamara carrying the load in the Norcross backfield and now-Tennessee wide receiver*Jason Croom*out wide, the Blue Devils won the school's first-ever GHSA state championship. Kamara finished the season with 2,264 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
In the 21-14 title win over Lovejoy, Kamara ran for 119 yards on 33 attempts.
Croom and Kamara fed off one another and pushed each other to improve at Norcross. That’s expected to rekindle on Rocky Top.
“That’s going to be special because our high school gamers were crazy at Norcross,” Kamara said. “Me and him worked out, and we kind of set the tone for the team. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun to be back with him and competing through workouts in junior high and stuff. Me and him we used to push each other. Sometimes we weren’t even friends on training days from working so hard because if I catch him slipping a little, I’m on him and if I’m slipping then he’s on me. It’s going to be fun.”
The runner says he is not certain when he will take his official visit to Tennessee. He will speak with Gillespie to get something set up before enrolling in Knoxville in January.
The playmaker admitted that he didn’t think about it until after his declaration, but he’s taking a route similar to that of one of the most electrifying Vols in program history. Hutchinson is the same community college that produced eventual NFL Draft first-round selection*Cordarrelle Patterson.
Kamara reports to Kansas on Saturday. Coach Rion Rhoades leads Hutchinson into their 2014 season opener at Gowans Stadium on Aug. 28.
Tennessee*by securing the commitment ofAlvin Kamara*on June 21.
“Really I just felt like it was a good fit —*closer to home, have a lot of friends that go there and felt like they were genuine and they believe in what they were telling me,” Kamara told InsideTennessee. “I felt like I could trust what they were saying.”
If recruiting targets aren’t talking about the family atmosphere generated by Tennessee second-year coach Butch Jones, they’re talking about his outlook on the future. Where Jones sees the Vols program over the next several years entices Kamara, who is now at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College after signing with Alabama in 2013 following a standout career at Norcross (Ga.) High School.
“Coach Jones, he’s really passionate about his job and what he’s doing,” the Scout four-star prospect said. “He really wants to bring Tennessee back to the*Phillip Fulmer*days when they were on top of the SEC. He’s real passionate about it, and I like that because I want to be a part of something special and I want to be a part of a comeback. Me and coach Jones, we’ve talked a lot and I kind of think we’re on the same level of understanding of the future of Tennessee and the future of college football. He’s really trying to move mountains, so I like that about him.”
The Blue Dragon running back said with his proximity in the Jayhawk Conference to the western portion of the country, more Pac-12 schools got involved with his recruitment this time around such as Arizona and USC to go with Georgia, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin. In the end, the Big Orange simply had too many positives to pass up.
Kamara's pledge gave the Big Orange 14 verbal commitments for the 2015 signing class. Since then, Tennessee added five more commitments and the class ranks No. 9 nationally as of July 5. He joins three-starRocky Reid*in the group at running back.
The former Under Armour All-American joined U.S. Army All-American runners Derek Henry,*Tyren Jones*and*Altee Tenpenny*in the Crimson Tide’s star-studded ’13 class.
A knee injury slowed Kamara early into his one season at Alabama after being named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Mr. Football for the 2012 season. He was suspended for the Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. His time in Tuscaloosa prepared him for what lies ahead on Rocky Top.
“Physically, when you get to college football and especially in the SEC, everybody is a freak in some way,” Karmara said. “Somebody is faster, a lot of people are bigger, and it’s just grown men. You’ve got to take that weightroom and that training seriously. At Alabama, I really got serious in the weightroom. I already was, but I really took it to a new level and tried to sculpt out my body from a running aspect and training and working hard. I feel like I learned a lot from being at ‘Bama just from a physical aspect and how you have to train to compete on that level.
“I already feel good going into Hutch and going into Tennessee because I already know how it’s going to be at Tennessee. Of course, they’re going to do it different, but I have a good idea.”
Tennessee signed*Jabo Lee*in its 2013 class, but he never saw a practice in Knoxville and attends Temple. From its 2012 class, all three backs —*Davante Bourque,*Alden Hilland*Quenshaun Watson*—*are no longer with the team.
On the current roster as running backs for Team 118 are seniors*Marlin Lane*andDevrin Young*with freshmen*Jalen Hurd,Treyvon Paulk*and*Derrell Scott.*Justus Pickett*sat out last fall after transferring from Maryland.
“Yeah, I looked at the depth chart because to be honest with you, there’s only one football,” Kamara said. “A lot of schools are like, ‘Oh, we’re going to get you the ball this way and that way,’ but you can kind of weed out what’s real and what’s not.
“Looking at Tennessee, they were like, ‘We want you to come in,’ and they explained the depth chart to me. I was like, ‘OK.’ It adds up because there’s not going to be a whole lot of people on the depth chart. Me coming in, I’ll be the oldest running back in the room.”
That group is led by running backs coach Robert Gillespie, who Kamara says is “one of the biggest reasons I committed.”
“One of the differences this time around (with recruiting) was I was really looking for a relationship with my position coach because I didn’t really have that at Alabama. I didn’t really have a great relationship with my position coach. Coach G, I’ve really tried to spend a lot of time getting to know him. I went to Tennessee before I committed to try to hang around him and see how he was. He is a guy that does not change. He’s the same 24/7 and that’s what I really liked about him. He won’t try to sugarcoat anything; he’ll tell you how it is, and I like that about him. He’s a younger guy and played at Florida, played the position. That plays into it a lot.”
In 2012, with Kamara carrying the load in the Norcross backfield and now-Tennessee wide receiver*Jason Croom*out wide, the Blue Devils won the school's first-ever GHSA state championship. Kamara finished the season with 2,264 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
In the 21-14 title win over Lovejoy, Kamara ran for 119 yards on 33 attempts.
Croom and Kamara fed off one another and pushed each other to improve at Norcross. That’s expected to rekindle on Rocky Top.
“That’s going to be special because our high school gamers were crazy at Norcross,” Kamara said. “Me and him worked out, and we kind of set the tone for the team. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun to be back with him and competing through workouts in junior high and stuff. Me and him we used to push each other. Sometimes we weren’t even friends on training days from working so hard because if I catch him slipping a little, I’m on him and if I’m slipping then he’s on me. It’s going to be fun.”
The runner says he is not certain when he will take his official visit to Tennessee. He will speak with Gillespie to get something set up before enrolling in Knoxville in January.
The playmaker admitted that he didn’t think about it until after his declaration, but he’s taking a route similar to that of one of the most electrifying Vols in program history. Hutchinson is the same community college that produced eventual NFL Draft first-round selection*Cordarrelle Patterson.
Kamara reports to Kansas on Saturday. Coach Rion Rhoades leads Hutchinson into their 2014 season opener at Gowans Stadium on Aug. 28.
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Fwiw, scout and rivals boards are saying Chris has been accepted. Said that players are saying he has been accepted. It wasn't Hubbs, Fort, or Parker, so it's nothing official. Supposed to be announced Monday
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Cameron Ordway*is a rising senior college football prospect that has had as eventful of a 2014 from a recruiting standpoint as any player in the Volunteer State.
Following a junior season that saw his Giles County (Tenn.) Bobcats reach the 2013 TSSAA Class 4A state championship game, Ordway found himself with merely one offer (Vanderbilt) and no positional ranking. Since his highlights circulated throughout the country and he worked on his craft this spring, the Pulaski, Tenn., resident saw interest come in droves, and he shot up to four-star status and Scout’s No. 23 cornerback in the nation.
“It’s just inspirational,” Ordway told Scout. “I just thank God for all of it. I’m just enjoying this ride right now and taking it all in. I’m thankful.
“There were times I would catch myself in a big-time stage, but then there were times I was like, ‘I’m in a small town, it’ going to be hard for people to find me.’ Once (Ole Missquarterback)*Bo Wallace*made it —*he’s from here —*I realized anything can happen. I just trained every day and my dream turned to a reality.”
Alabama,*Florida State,*Notre Dame,*Purdueand*Tennessee*are some of the schools that visited Giles County this spring. In all, the cornerback has roughly 20 scholarship offers.
One of the last schools to offer is*LSU.
“They talked to my coach and told him that if I come down there, there’s a good chance of me playing freshman year because they don’t have many DBs,” said Ordway, who sees five-star*Kevin Toliver*as a safety.
In mid-June, Ordway released a top 10 that includes Alabama,*Clemson,*Florida*State, LSU,*Michigan, Notre Dame,*Ohio State, Ole Miss,*Penn State*and Tennessee.
Ordway says he hears from specific coaches more than others, including Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele, Notre Dame special teams coordinator Scott Booker, Purdue defensive backs coach Taver Johnson and Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez.
At 6-feet, 170 pounds, Ordway has traits that these coaches point out to him that they find attractive such as “being able to be on the island, my length, my height, my speed and just being able to handle things one-on-one, off-man, press-man.”
“I can play Nickel. If they need me to play Nickel, I’ll play. If not, they can put me out there on an island,” the four-star said.
A verbal commitment could come as soon as a month from now but expectations are for at least a handful of official visits to take place, including one possibly to Michigan.
Ordway does not plan to enroll at the university of his choice in January.
Following a junior season that saw his Giles County (Tenn.) Bobcats reach the 2013 TSSAA Class 4A state championship game, Ordway found himself with merely one offer (Vanderbilt) and no positional ranking. Since his highlights circulated throughout the country and he worked on his craft this spring, the Pulaski, Tenn., resident saw interest come in droves, and he shot up to four-star status and Scout’s No. 23 cornerback in the nation.
“It’s just inspirational,” Ordway told Scout. “I just thank God for all of it. I’m just enjoying this ride right now and taking it all in. I’m thankful.
“There were times I would catch myself in a big-time stage, but then there were times I was like, ‘I’m in a small town, it’ going to be hard for people to find me.’ Once (Ole Missquarterback)*Bo Wallace*made it —*he’s from here —*I realized anything can happen. I just trained every day and my dream turned to a reality.”
Alabama,*Florida State,*Notre Dame,*Purdueand*Tennessee*are some of the schools that visited Giles County this spring. In all, the cornerback has roughly 20 scholarship offers.
One of the last schools to offer is*LSU.
“They talked to my coach and told him that if I come down there, there’s a good chance of me playing freshman year because they don’t have many DBs,” said Ordway, who sees five-star*Kevin Toliver*as a safety.
In mid-June, Ordway released a top 10 that includes Alabama,*Clemson,*Florida*State, LSU,*Michigan, Notre Dame,*Ohio State, Ole Miss,*Penn State*and Tennessee.
Ordway says he hears from specific coaches more than others, including Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele, Notre Dame special teams coordinator Scott Booker, Purdue defensive backs coach Taver Johnson and Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez.
At 6-feet, 170 pounds, Ordway has traits that these coaches point out to him that they find attractive such as “being able to be on the island, my length, my height, my speed and just being able to handle things one-on-one, off-man, press-man.”
“I can play Nickel. If they need me to play Nickel, I’ll play. If not, they can put me out there on an island,” the four-star said.
A verbal commitment could come as soon as a month from now but expectations are for at least a handful of official visits to take place, including one possibly to Michigan.
Ordway does not plan to enroll at the university of his choice in January.
LotteryPick
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Our DT haul is going to be unfair, you guys.
NochNoch
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So I'd never say this over there because it would just add more fuel to the dumpster fire going on about numbers in way too many threads but, how many current commits are we going to ask to look around? Assuming McKenzie is locked up, we've got 4 spots left available (not even touching on the Leb soapbox of roster turnover needed for 24 this class) and seem to be in on/leading for a whole lot more than 4 guys.
Seems to be so many narratives going on that everyone swears by but, eventually, some of them are going to have to change. There are threads for a handful of players (all the DTs, Love, Jefferson, etc.) who everybody says are no doubters and there's no way you can turn them away but CBJ also values specialists and the K and LS will get a spot too.
End of the day, what I think, especially in July, doesn't matter for chit but, as much as he annoys the hell outta me, I am starting to wonder about some of the same things Leb, et al constantly harp on in every thread in the RF.
Seems to be so many narratives going on that everyone swears by but, eventually, some of them are going to have to change. There are threads for a handful of players (all the DTs, Love, Jefferson, etc.) who everybody says are no doubters and there's no way you can turn them away but CBJ also values specialists and the K and LS will get a spot too.
End of the day, what I think, especially in July, doesn't matter for chit but, as much as he annoys the hell outta me, I am starting to wonder about some of the same things Leb, et al constantly harp on in every thread in the RF.
005
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I think Kahlil is the best player in the class but Richmond is less of a sure thing so he may be a bigger priority. I have no idea how the hell this is going to work. Maybe we aren't as in on some guys as the board thinks... Maybe Love and Sweat are pipe dreams and Clemson pulls Tuttle... Idk. It's just odd. I can't make any sense of it.
wU-Tang Vol
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I really don't understand taking Joc Bruce personally. I could see Love replacing Reid, although I think Reid will be a great back. Atkinson, Sapp, DeBerry- who do you take there? Phillips, Olenga, Walker, Clemons, Sweat- Who do you take there? No way we'd pass on Phillips or Sweat... Ordeay, Abernathy, Martin, McGraw, McDuffie- who there? McKenzie, Suttle, Jones, Settle- who there? Plus Jefferson and Richmond. I'm going to assume the Gibson ship has sailed.
I bet 3 commits get told to look around. I don't think Jackson will be one of those because he has, according to other sites, loads of potential on both sides of the line. This will seriously take some wizardry to pull it all together. It's a fair question Noch.
I bet 3 commits get told to look around. I don't think Jackson will be one of those because he has, according to other sites, loads of potential on both sides of the line. This will seriously take some wizardry to pull it all together. It's a fair question Noch.
LotteryPick
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Bruce is looking like a pretty bad take.
NO clue what CBJ will do to figure it out.
NO clue what CBJ will do to figure it out.
wU-Tang Vol
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Van Jefferson:
“Just the whole team, coach Jones, coach Azzanni,” Jefferson said of what sticks out about the Vols. “I talk to (Tennessee freshman wide receiver)*Josh Malone. I talked to the quarterback that’s committed,Quinten Dormady. Those guys are very cool. I love the campus. I love the environment of the school. It’s just a comfortable atmosphere. My mom liked it, too.”
“Just the whole team, coach Jones, coach Azzanni,” Jefferson said of what sticks out about the Vols. “I talk to (Tennessee freshman wide receiver)*Josh Malone. I talked to the quarterback that’s committed,Quinten Dormady. Those guys are very cool. I love the campus. I love the environment of the school. It’s just a comfortable atmosphere. My mom liked it, too.”
005
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