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Today is the day. We get the best DL prospect we've had IN A WHILE
Wu's very own recruiting thread.
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Scotty's Flat Top
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#VoteJUp
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Scotty's Flat Top
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Scotty's Flat Top
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Whaaa?? I so had you pegged as a "The Hills," "Laguna Beach" fan.
BenTenn
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Negative, chief.
TBreazy
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Samsies. He's the lebron James of reality TV stars
LotteryPick
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Pratt? Nah.
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BEAVERTON, Ore. —*Kahlil McKenzie*had recruiting junkies on the edge of their seat Thursday.
They weren’t the only ones.
McKenzie didn’t fully inform the coaching staffs at Arizona and*Tennessee*of his intentions when they spoke Wednesday night.
“I didn’t really tell them, I hinted it,” McKenzie told InsideTennessee.
“A lot of guys were like, ‘Ah, that’s messed up. You couldn’t tell them?’ I was like, ‘Hey, I told them a while back it was just going to be whoever it is, that’s who it is.”
In the end, the Volunteers won out and landed arguably the biggest orange-clad recruit in half a decade or more. McKenzie gives Tennessee 20 commitments for the 2015 signing class, and he joins Buford (Ga.) High School’s*Quay Picou*as defensive tackle pledges.
It’s not often that a Scout five-star prospect that grew up in Wisconsin and lives in California chooses to play his college football at Tennessee. McKenzie is different as his ties run deeper than Lake Loudon.
Having a father and uncle that prepped at Austin-East High School in Knoxville and went on to play linebacker and offensive guard, respectively, for the Orange & White meant consistent trips as a youth to East Tennessee.
“It’s really just a second home and and everything I look for in a school, much like Arizona,” McKenzie said. “It’s just…you just get that feeling. We were talking about it out here (at The Opening). Guys are recruiting for their school while they’re looking at some other top schools. ‘Why don’t you like this school? Why don’t you like that school?’ I really got that same thing. You’ve got to have that feeling when you go to a school. The coach, when you’re there, ain’t gonna sweet talk you no more. You’re his now. He’s going to do whatever he wants with you. You need that feeling.”
Second-year coach Butch Jones has made it quite obvious that he takes the recruiting aspect of his job seriously and has played a vital role in securing commitments from some of the nation’s best. However, in McKenzie’s case, Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling played possibly an even more important part.
“I talk to coach Stripling more than I talk to coach Jones,” the Concord, Calif., resident said. “Most of the time when I talk to coach Jones it is because I was talking to coach Stripling first. So, yeah, me and him have a pretty good relationship.”
After the 2013 season, Tennessee graduated its entire starting defensive line. Given his skill level, the No. 1 player in the west should be a contender for the Volunteers’ two-deep in 2015 —*even as a true freshman.
“My goal is always to get out there and prove that I can play right away,” McKenzie said. “It’s all talk until I get to school or whatever. When I get to school it’s going to be shutting up and playing. I like playing line-of-scrimmage stuff. We we do run-blocking stuff, I love that, that’s more my home. Pass rush, it just so happens I move pretty well, so I can get around guys. I’m pretty powerful. It turns out I can rush the passer pretty good, which is what a lot of coaches love about me. I love being two-dimensional, but yeah, I love it down there at the line of scrimmage.”
The 6-foot-3 1/2, 341-pounder proved his worth against the nation’s best offensive linemen this week at The Opening, earning Defensive Line MVP of the Lineman Challenge.
“It’s a good feeling to know that I’m one of the top 5 guys here,” McKenzie said at Ronaldo Field. “Once you’re in the top 5, it’s just proving that you’re the No. 1 guy.”
The five-star admitted to losing a pair of reps to Hawaiian blocker and Scout’s No. 2-ranked center in nation*Fred Ulu-Perry.
“He got me a little bit. It’s all right,” McKenzie said.
Whether he winds up as the No. 1 overall player in the country with Scout’s player rankings remains to be seen. However, given what McKenzie showed at De La Salle High School last fall and if expectations at Clayton Valley High School this season are fulfilled, he could get there.
Scout national director of scouting Scott Kennedy: “That size, speed combination at a premium position like defensive tackle in a class that doesn’t necessarily have a true No. 1, I think he’s the No. 1 prospect in the country. Again, he might not wind up at No. 1, it’s not the Scott.com rankings. He’s my No. 1 guy.” <.p>
McKenzie says he will attempt to visit Tennessee both officially and unofficially but has no plans to visit other schools, effectively “shutting it down” from a recruitment standpoint.
They weren’t the only ones.
McKenzie didn’t fully inform the coaching staffs at Arizona and*Tennessee*of his intentions when they spoke Wednesday night.
“I didn’t really tell them, I hinted it,” McKenzie told InsideTennessee.
“A lot of guys were like, ‘Ah, that’s messed up. You couldn’t tell them?’ I was like, ‘Hey, I told them a while back it was just going to be whoever it is, that’s who it is.”
In the end, the Volunteers won out and landed arguably the biggest orange-clad recruit in half a decade or more. McKenzie gives Tennessee 20 commitments for the 2015 signing class, and he joins Buford (Ga.) High School’s*Quay Picou*as defensive tackle pledges.
It’s not often that a Scout five-star prospect that grew up in Wisconsin and lives in California chooses to play his college football at Tennessee. McKenzie is different as his ties run deeper than Lake Loudon.
Having a father and uncle that prepped at Austin-East High School in Knoxville and went on to play linebacker and offensive guard, respectively, for the Orange & White meant consistent trips as a youth to East Tennessee.
“It’s really just a second home and and everything I look for in a school, much like Arizona,” McKenzie said. “It’s just…you just get that feeling. We were talking about it out here (at The Opening). Guys are recruiting for their school while they’re looking at some other top schools. ‘Why don’t you like this school? Why don’t you like that school?’ I really got that same thing. You’ve got to have that feeling when you go to a school. The coach, when you’re there, ain’t gonna sweet talk you no more. You’re his now. He’s going to do whatever he wants with you. You need that feeling.”
Second-year coach Butch Jones has made it quite obvious that he takes the recruiting aspect of his job seriously and has played a vital role in securing commitments from some of the nation’s best. However, in McKenzie’s case, Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling played possibly an even more important part.
“I talk to coach Stripling more than I talk to coach Jones,” the Concord, Calif., resident said. “Most of the time when I talk to coach Jones it is because I was talking to coach Stripling first. So, yeah, me and him have a pretty good relationship.”
After the 2013 season, Tennessee graduated its entire starting defensive line. Given his skill level, the No. 1 player in the west should be a contender for the Volunteers’ two-deep in 2015 —*even as a true freshman.
“My goal is always to get out there and prove that I can play right away,” McKenzie said. “It’s all talk until I get to school or whatever. When I get to school it’s going to be shutting up and playing. I like playing line-of-scrimmage stuff. We we do run-blocking stuff, I love that, that’s more my home. Pass rush, it just so happens I move pretty well, so I can get around guys. I’m pretty powerful. It turns out I can rush the passer pretty good, which is what a lot of coaches love about me. I love being two-dimensional, but yeah, I love it down there at the line of scrimmage.”
The 6-foot-3 1/2, 341-pounder proved his worth against the nation’s best offensive linemen this week at The Opening, earning Defensive Line MVP of the Lineman Challenge.
“It’s a good feeling to know that I’m one of the top 5 guys here,” McKenzie said at Ronaldo Field. “Once you’re in the top 5, it’s just proving that you’re the No. 1 guy.”
The five-star admitted to losing a pair of reps to Hawaiian blocker and Scout’s No. 2-ranked center in nation*Fred Ulu-Perry.
“He got me a little bit. It’s all right,” McKenzie said.
Whether he winds up as the No. 1 overall player in the country with Scout’s player rankings remains to be seen. However, given what McKenzie showed at De La Salle High School last fall and if expectations at Clayton Valley High School this season are fulfilled, he could get there.
Scout national director of scouting Scott Kennedy: “That size, speed combination at a premium position like defensive tackle in a class that doesn’t necessarily have a true No. 1, I think he’s the No. 1 prospect in the country. Again, he might not wind up at No. 1, it’s not the Scott.com rankings. He’s my No. 1 guy.” <.p>
McKenzie says he will attempt to visit Tennessee both officially and unofficially but has no plans to visit other schools, effectively “shutting it down” from a recruitment standpoint.
Scotty's Flat Top
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Program changer.
Scotty's Flat Top
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He makes the entire defense better the moment he steps on the field.
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With great power comes great responsibility. In Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee has an increasingly larger figure to point to on the recruiting trail to show how prospects are “buying in” to what the staff is doing. Between getting Scout’s No. 4-ranked class signed in 2014 and adding a five-star donning an orange hat on national TV at the summer’s premier event (following suit with former four-star and Vols signee Dillon Bates), the program was able to market itself nationally. Now, McKenzie himself intends to hit the recruiting trail.
Two players in an image McKenzie tweeted are five-star defensive end Rasheem Green and four-star linebacker John Houston. Both attend Serra High out in California, which is the same school that produced one-time Tennessee target Adoree Jackson and rising senior cornerback and four-star Stanley Norman.
Speculation around the top three in-state rising seniors continues to swirl. That trio is four-star offensive tackle Drew Richmond, four-star defensive end Kyle Phillips and four-star defensive back Rico McGraw. Tennessee has positioned itself well to land all three but could also whiff on all three. Time will tell. Winning more this fall would undoubtedly help with both McGraw and Phillips. If the Orange & White wind up with McGraw, a giant portion of that credit goes to assistant coach Tommy Thigpen, who’s in charge of roaming the Ensworth halls and showing the Power T at the powerhouse (for a change over previous staff). Richmond wants a legit chance to start as a true freshman and is extremely confident in his ability. The Vols are in better shape with the Memphis-based Richmond and sources indicate that they have a slight lead on Alabama, Ohio State and Ole Miss.
Keep an eye out over the next two weeks for a possible declaration from in-state four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson. If the Brentwood resident does commit, all signs point to Tennessee. If he holds off a month or so, it’s likely because he’s giving Georgia and Ohio State a chance to knock off the Vols, which may or may not be possible. Tennessee looks good here.
The same cannot be said for Arizona’s best ’15 prospect, Christian Kirk. The nation’s No. 4 pass-catcher told IT that the Vols are going to have a hard time making his top 5, primarily because of slot receiver talk. Kirk wants time out wide and sees the larger playmakers like Josh Malone, Marquez North and Preston Williams and doesn’t see that as an option on The Hill. However, Kirk gave props to assistant coach Zach Azzanni for his recruiting skill.
The intrigue of seeing five-star quarterback Torrance Gibson throw during the 7-on-7 tournament was thwarted as the Plantation, Fla., native complained of a high-ankle sprain and did not participate in anything outside of the Elite 11 competition/training. Gibson maintains that he’s a “quarterback at heart” and has the Vols No. 1 on his list, primarily due to trust with Butch Jones to allow him to play the position.
If there’s a prospect that turned heads for non-regional analysts outside of McKenzie and wideout Calvin Ridley it was five-star defensive end Josh Sweat. A conversation with IT shows that Sweat is in the infancy stages of his recruitment. He did say Tennessee helped itself with his recent (as did Georgia). The end that clocked a sub-4.5 40 (in spite of having a bad hip) plans to see many more campuses and meet more staffs before putting together any sort of top group.
Bryce Love didn’t clock a repeat 40 time in the sub-4.3 range and was one of the smaller athletes in the 162-player field. The Tar Heel State scatback is explosive and highly recruited. Love told IT that all the in-state universities are after him, and he has mutual interest. Also in the group are Florida, Stanford, Tennessee and Virginia Tech with the latter four all being candidates for official visits.
A shakeup in the Scout overall rankings for 2015 is quite possible after the action at NIKE World Headquarters. IT isn’t predicting this but a potential top 5 of McKenzie, Sweat, Byron Cowart, Martez Ivey and CeCe Jefferson could create a scenario whereby the Vols and Florida land the entire top 5 between them (not likely in terms of the rankings, however).
Keep an eye on Shy Tuttle as some sources indicate that North Carolina’s best rising senior is speeding up the process and could make a declaration soon. The Vols (undoubtedly would take Tuttle) are in it with ACC schools Clemson, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina and North Carolina State.
Expectations are for several major names to be on campus later next week as the second session of senior camps takes place shortly after coach Jones returns from Southeastern Conference Media Days. This is a key trip for elite uncommitted prospects to make and be impressed by at could be a lasting memory before they start or continue with their respective training camps and subsequent prep seasons.
Clinton High athlete Jaylond Woods (Class of 2015) attended two Vol camps as a prospect before earning a scholarship offer. He attended a third camp earlier this summer as a commitment. Obviously, the stress level is higher when you’re trying to convince the coaches you deserve an offer and lower when you’re simply reminding them why they offered.
“The difference in this camp was just cutting up with the coaches, I guess,” Woods told InsideTennessee.
Asked if he is more relaxed now that he has the recruiting process behind him, Woods nodded.
“I’d say so,” he said. “The coaches are more lenient. They’re ready to work but we also had some relaxation time and some fun time with it.”
Coaches love prospects with the versatility to play a scrimmage position and also contribute on special teams. That’s why Vol staffers love 2016 commitment Dorian Banks, who played at Sevier County High the past two seasons but will attend Gallatin High as a junior this fall. In addition to potential as a running back, receiver and defensive back, he shows great promise as a return specialist.
“I’ve done that since I was little,” he recently told IT. “I’ve only had three touchdown returns in high school – two kickoffs and one punt – because teams don’t kick me the ball much. I ran a punt back my freshman year (in a varsity game) and I had a 99-yard kickoff return last year against Seymour.”
Banks loves the simplicity of returning kicks: Find a crease and turn on the jets.
“All of that is just skill – show your speed, show your moves,” he said. “Get in open space, then see who you can make miss.”
Although he has superior speed, Banks said being a quality return man requires more.
“It’s not just about being fast; it’s about being quick,” he said. “There’s a difference between fast and quick. Fast is long-term. Quick is just being quick.”
Two names to log into the memory bank: Rashan Gary and Jalen McKenzie. By showing up as an athletically shaped 6-4, 285 and more than holding his own in the one-on-one drills at The Opening, Gary bolted up the Scout rankings to the No. 1 player overall in the 2016 class. IT spoke with Gary in Beaverton, and he has both an offer and interest in the Vols. Alabama has been after Gary for over a year, however.
McKenzie is the younger brother to Kahlil McKenzie. Jalen is every bit of 6-4 and 280. He attended The Opening to get a feel for that environment and to support his brother with his declaration. Reggie McKenzie told IT that he expects Kahlil’s recruitment and bright future to motivate Jalen and that Jalen has tremendous upside.
Two players in an image McKenzie tweeted are five-star defensive end Rasheem Green and four-star linebacker John Houston. Both attend Serra High out in California, which is the same school that produced one-time Tennessee target Adoree Jackson and rising senior cornerback and four-star Stanley Norman.
Speculation around the top three in-state rising seniors continues to swirl. That trio is four-star offensive tackle Drew Richmond, four-star defensive end Kyle Phillips and four-star defensive back Rico McGraw. Tennessee has positioned itself well to land all three but could also whiff on all three. Time will tell. Winning more this fall would undoubtedly help with both McGraw and Phillips. If the Orange & White wind up with McGraw, a giant portion of that credit goes to assistant coach Tommy Thigpen, who’s in charge of roaming the Ensworth halls and showing the Power T at the powerhouse (for a change over previous staff). Richmond wants a legit chance to start as a true freshman and is extremely confident in his ability. The Vols are in better shape with the Memphis-based Richmond and sources indicate that they have a slight lead on Alabama, Ohio State and Ole Miss.
Keep an eye out over the next two weeks for a possible declaration from in-state four-star wide receiver Van Jefferson. If the Brentwood resident does commit, all signs point to Tennessee. If he holds off a month or so, it’s likely because he’s giving Georgia and Ohio State a chance to knock off the Vols, which may or may not be possible. Tennessee looks good here.
The same cannot be said for Arizona’s best ’15 prospect, Christian Kirk. The nation’s No. 4 pass-catcher told IT that the Vols are going to have a hard time making his top 5, primarily because of slot receiver talk. Kirk wants time out wide and sees the larger playmakers like Josh Malone, Marquez North and Preston Williams and doesn’t see that as an option on The Hill. However, Kirk gave props to assistant coach Zach Azzanni for his recruiting skill.
The intrigue of seeing five-star quarterback Torrance Gibson throw during the 7-on-7 tournament was thwarted as the Plantation, Fla., native complained of a high-ankle sprain and did not participate in anything outside of the Elite 11 competition/training. Gibson maintains that he’s a “quarterback at heart” and has the Vols No. 1 on his list, primarily due to trust with Butch Jones to allow him to play the position.
If there’s a prospect that turned heads for non-regional analysts outside of McKenzie and wideout Calvin Ridley it was five-star defensive end Josh Sweat. A conversation with IT shows that Sweat is in the infancy stages of his recruitment. He did say Tennessee helped itself with his recent (as did Georgia). The end that clocked a sub-4.5 40 (in spite of having a bad hip) plans to see many more campuses and meet more staffs before putting together any sort of top group.
Bryce Love didn’t clock a repeat 40 time in the sub-4.3 range and was one of the smaller athletes in the 162-player field. The Tar Heel State scatback is explosive and highly recruited. Love told IT that all the in-state universities are after him, and he has mutual interest. Also in the group are Florida, Stanford, Tennessee and Virginia Tech with the latter four all being candidates for official visits.
A shakeup in the Scout overall rankings for 2015 is quite possible after the action at NIKE World Headquarters. IT isn’t predicting this but a potential top 5 of McKenzie, Sweat, Byron Cowart, Martez Ivey and CeCe Jefferson could create a scenario whereby the Vols and Florida land the entire top 5 between them (not likely in terms of the rankings, however).
Keep an eye on Shy Tuttle as some sources indicate that North Carolina’s best rising senior is speeding up the process and could make a declaration soon. The Vols (undoubtedly would take Tuttle) are in it with ACC schools Clemson, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina and North Carolina State.
Expectations are for several major names to be on campus later next week as the second session of senior camps takes place shortly after coach Jones returns from Southeastern Conference Media Days. This is a key trip for elite uncommitted prospects to make and be impressed by at could be a lasting memory before they start or continue with their respective training camps and subsequent prep seasons.
Clinton High athlete Jaylond Woods (Class of 2015) attended two Vol camps as a prospect before earning a scholarship offer. He attended a third camp earlier this summer as a commitment. Obviously, the stress level is higher when you’re trying to convince the coaches you deserve an offer and lower when you’re simply reminding them why they offered.
“The difference in this camp was just cutting up with the coaches, I guess,” Woods told InsideTennessee.
Asked if he is more relaxed now that he has the recruiting process behind him, Woods nodded.
“I’d say so,” he said. “The coaches are more lenient. They’re ready to work but we also had some relaxation time and some fun time with it.”
Coaches love prospects with the versatility to play a scrimmage position and also contribute on special teams. That’s why Vol staffers love 2016 commitment Dorian Banks, who played at Sevier County High the past two seasons but will attend Gallatin High as a junior this fall. In addition to potential as a running back, receiver and defensive back, he shows great promise as a return specialist.
“I’ve done that since I was little,” he recently told IT. “I’ve only had three touchdown returns in high school – two kickoffs and one punt – because teams don’t kick me the ball much. I ran a punt back my freshman year (in a varsity game) and I had a 99-yard kickoff return last year against Seymour.”
Banks loves the simplicity of returning kicks: Find a crease and turn on the jets.
“All of that is just skill – show your speed, show your moves,” he said. “Get in open space, then see who you can make miss.”
Although he has superior speed, Banks said being a quality return man requires more.
“It’s not just about being fast; it’s about being quick,” he said. “There’s a difference between fast and quick. Fast is long-term. Quick is just being quick.”
Two names to log into the memory bank: Rashan Gary and Jalen McKenzie. By showing up as an athletically shaped 6-4, 285 and more than holding his own in the one-on-one drills at The Opening, Gary bolted up the Scout rankings to the No. 1 player overall in the 2016 class. IT spoke with Gary in Beaverton, and he has both an offer and interest in the Vols. Alabama has been after Gary for over a year, however.
McKenzie is the younger brother to Kahlil McKenzie. Jalen is every bit of 6-4 and 280. He attended The Opening to get a feel for that environment and to support his brother with his declaration. Reggie McKenzie told IT that he expects Kahlil’s recruitment and bright future to motivate Jalen and that Jalen has tremendous upside.
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It’s not uncommon to see committed prospects — particularly those pledged to a school for an extended period of time — get a bit intrigued by other options as the process winds down.
At this point, it appears long-time*Tennesseecommit*Cecil Cherry*will defy any such trend.
Rated by Scout as the No. 13 middle linebacker prospect for the 2015 cycle, Cherry gave his word to second-year Tennessee coach Butch Jones over a year ago. As a rising junior in June 2013, Cherry decided he had seen and learned plenty to know he’d end up playing on The Hill.
Since committing to the Big Orange, the Frostproof, Fla., product has been an active recruiter for the Volunteers via social media. While in Beaverton, Ore., for Nike’s crown jewel of camps, The Opening, Cherry found a chance to pitch Tennessee to other prospects face-to-face.
“I’m just talking to Kahlil (McKenzie), I’m focused on him. He’s a D-tackle, I need a big body in front of me. … every (offensive) lineman in the SEC is his size, but he’ll take on four of ‘em at the same time,” the 6-foot-1, 224-pounder said in reference to Scout five-star defensive tackle,*Kahlil McKenzie. McKenzie, who Scout lists as the No. 1 prospect overall for 2015, donned an orange and white bucket hat on July 10 and gave his pledge to the Vols.
“He’s a big lineman, but he’s physical and he’s got a high motor. I need an engine like that in front of me … I need to be surrounded by good players to help me develop my game and develop their game and help UT win and bring back a national championship.”
During his time at The Opening, the Scout three-star has also spent time with fellow Tennessee commit and rising senior*Preston Williams.
“Shoot, he’ll come sit on my bed and everything and talk," Cherry said of five-star wide receiver Williams. "We just talk about how coach Jones loves both of us."
Cherry, though less lauded than five-stars McKenzie and Williams, has consistently performed well on the camp circuit. The Sunshine State standout, a member of Team Alpha Pro at The Opening, made his way to Nike’s culminating event after an MVP performance at Orlando’s Nike Football Training Camp in March.
Competing against 162 of the nation’s best prospects is something Cherry was excited about during his time on the Nike campus.
“It makes you get better and compete and it’s fun,” Cherry said. “We just came out here to compete and get better.”
As a middle linebacker, Cherry might remind a lot of Tennessee fans of senior A.J. Johnson. Scout national analyst, Jamie Newberg described Cherry as a “tough, hard-nosed and physical linebacker that is a standout between the tackles,” which are qualities commonly attributed Johnson.
Though Johnson, an All-SEC performer, brings a bit more size to the table at 6-foot-3, 233-pounds, both players are well known for their acuity near the line of scrimmage.
While Johnson and Cherry will never take the field together in Knoxville, the two have forged a valuable friendship.
“A.J. is like my brother. … he’s treated me like a little brother,” the Scout three-star said of the Vols’ tackling machine.
“But at the same time, he’s teaching me what I have to learn when I get to Tennessee. We talked about football, we talked about life, how to handle fans and everything.”
Cherry plans to make at least a few visits to Knoxville this fall for games. He has not decided if he will take official visits anywhere else.
According to the Vols commit, teams are still “coming hard” after his talents, but reaffirms that he is “with Tennessee all the way.”
At this point, it appears long-time*Tennesseecommit*Cecil Cherry*will defy any such trend.
Rated by Scout as the No. 13 middle linebacker prospect for the 2015 cycle, Cherry gave his word to second-year Tennessee coach Butch Jones over a year ago. As a rising junior in June 2013, Cherry decided he had seen and learned plenty to know he’d end up playing on The Hill.
Since committing to the Big Orange, the Frostproof, Fla., product has been an active recruiter for the Volunteers via social media. While in Beaverton, Ore., for Nike’s crown jewel of camps, The Opening, Cherry found a chance to pitch Tennessee to other prospects face-to-face.
“I’m just talking to Kahlil (McKenzie), I’m focused on him. He’s a D-tackle, I need a big body in front of me. … every (offensive) lineman in the SEC is his size, but he’ll take on four of ‘em at the same time,” the 6-foot-1, 224-pounder said in reference to Scout five-star defensive tackle,*Kahlil McKenzie. McKenzie, who Scout lists as the No. 1 prospect overall for 2015, donned an orange and white bucket hat on July 10 and gave his pledge to the Vols.
“He’s a big lineman, but he’s physical and he’s got a high motor. I need an engine like that in front of me … I need to be surrounded by good players to help me develop my game and develop their game and help UT win and bring back a national championship.”
During his time at The Opening, the Scout three-star has also spent time with fellow Tennessee commit and rising senior*Preston Williams.
“Shoot, he’ll come sit on my bed and everything and talk," Cherry said of five-star wide receiver Williams. "We just talk about how coach Jones loves both of us."
Cherry, though less lauded than five-stars McKenzie and Williams, has consistently performed well on the camp circuit. The Sunshine State standout, a member of Team Alpha Pro at The Opening, made his way to Nike’s culminating event after an MVP performance at Orlando’s Nike Football Training Camp in March.
Competing against 162 of the nation’s best prospects is something Cherry was excited about during his time on the Nike campus.
“It makes you get better and compete and it’s fun,” Cherry said. “We just came out here to compete and get better.”
As a middle linebacker, Cherry might remind a lot of Tennessee fans of senior A.J. Johnson. Scout national analyst, Jamie Newberg described Cherry as a “tough, hard-nosed and physical linebacker that is a standout between the tackles,” which are qualities commonly attributed Johnson.
Though Johnson, an All-SEC performer, brings a bit more size to the table at 6-foot-3, 233-pounds, both players are well known for their acuity near the line of scrimmage.
While Johnson and Cherry will never take the field together in Knoxville, the two have forged a valuable friendship.
“A.J. is like my brother. … he’s treated me like a little brother,” the Scout three-star said of the Vols’ tackling machine.
“But at the same time, he’s teaching me what I have to learn when I get to Tennessee. We talked about football, we talked about life, how to handle fans and everything.”
Cherry plans to make at least a few visits to Knoxville this fall for games. He has not decided if he will take official visits anywhere else.
According to the Vols commit, teams are still “coming hard” after his talents, but reaffirms that he is “with Tennessee all the way.”
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It started with a move up to No. 1 in the West after the Oakland NFTC in May.
It continued with a move up to No. 1 in the national after The Opening.
The ascension of*Kahlil McKenzie, from the middle of the Scout 300 midway through his junior year, to the top of the Scout Class of 2015 rankings, has happened quickly and emphatically.
Much like the way McKenzie plays.
After a dominant junior season, in which he shined in the CIF State Open Division Bowl Game, McKenzie moved from the middle of the pack to the top 50 nationally.
Then came an MVP performance at the Oakland NFTC, where he was the DL MVP, but essentially was the top performer there.
That moved McKenzie to the top prospect in the West, and in the conversation and contention for the No. 1 prospect in the country.
All he needed was another similar showing, this time in pads, at The Opening, in front of the whole Scout recruiting team and against the most talented and deepest group of offensive linemen he'd face all year.
Mission accomplished.
McKenzie matched his honors in Oakland, surpassing his performance there, and was named The Opening's DL MVP.
He wrapped up his trip to Beaverton by announcing his commitment to*Tennessee.
And now, as we're just weeks away from the beginning of the 2014 campaign, McKenzie is the new No. 1 prospect in the country by Scout.com.
"McKenzie wasn't rated in anyone's top 100 going in to his junior season," said national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins, who covers the West. "Fast forward a year later and the defensive tackle is now the No. 1 rated player in the entire country. McKenzie did it with a dominant junior season and an even more dominant spring. At 6-foot-4, 341 pounds, the big tackle is an absolute load in the middle and combines incredible raw power, violent hands, advanced technique and plus athleticism as well. After a strong week at The Opening in Oregon this past week, McKenzie rise to the top was complete."
And now, as we're just weeks away from the beginning of the 2014 campaign, McKenzie is the new No. 1 prospect in the country by Scout.com.
It continued with a move up to No. 1 in the national after The Opening.
The ascension of*Kahlil McKenzie, from the middle of the Scout 300 midway through his junior year, to the top of the Scout Class of 2015 rankings, has happened quickly and emphatically.
Much like the way McKenzie plays.
After a dominant junior season, in which he shined in the CIF State Open Division Bowl Game, McKenzie moved from the middle of the pack to the top 50 nationally.
Then came an MVP performance at the Oakland NFTC, where he was the DL MVP, but essentially was the top performer there.
That moved McKenzie to the top prospect in the West, and in the conversation and contention for the No. 1 prospect in the country.
All he needed was another similar showing, this time in pads, at The Opening, in front of the whole Scout recruiting team and against the most talented and deepest group of offensive linemen he'd face all year.
Mission accomplished.
McKenzie matched his honors in Oakland, surpassing his performance there, and was named The Opening's DL MVP.
He wrapped up his trip to Beaverton by announcing his commitment to*Tennessee.
And now, as we're just weeks away from the beginning of the 2014 campaign, McKenzie is the new No. 1 prospect in the country by Scout.com.
"McKenzie wasn't rated in anyone's top 100 going in to his junior season," said national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins, who covers the West. "Fast forward a year later and the defensive tackle is now the No. 1 rated player in the entire country. McKenzie did it with a dominant junior season and an even more dominant spring. At 6-foot-4, 341 pounds, the big tackle is an absolute load in the middle and combines incredible raw power, violent hands, advanced technique and plus athleticism as well. After a strong week at The Opening in Oregon this past week, McKenzie rise to the top was complete."
And now, as we're just weeks away from the beginning of the 2014 campaign, McKenzie is the new No. 1 prospect in the country by Scout.com.
