MUS linebacker Hart commits to Tennessee Vols

An empty Neyland Stadium awaits the Big Orange faithful before the Alabama game in this Oct. 25, 2014, photo.
An empty Neyland Stadium awaits the Big Orange faithful before the Alabama game in this Oct. 25, 2014, photo.

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee will go into the two-week dead period for college football recruiting on the heels of another commitment for its 2016 class.

Memphis University School linebacker Tim Hart picked the Volunteers over LSU and Ole Miss on Friday afternoon, giving Tennessee its 12th pledge for 2016.

"After much reflection with my family and by myself I am proud to say I've committed to the University of Tennessee," Hart wrote on his Twitter account.

After visiting Knoxville for Tennessee's spring game in April, Hart attended a camp at Ole Miss earlier this month. His scholarship offer list includes Missouri, Mississippi State, California, Memphis, Illinois and Indiana. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound three-star prospect is ranked 12th among in-state prospects, according to 247Sports.com.

Hart is a former high school teammate of Tennessee freshman offensive lineman Drew Richmond and freshman walk-on cornerback MaLeik Gatewood.

He is the third commitment the Vols have added in the past two weeks, joining Christian Academy of Knoxville tight end Austin Pope and Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College defensive tackle Alexis Johnson.

The Vols were able to land Pope while his stock rose earlier this month. In a span of about a week, the 6-5, 220-pounder added scholarship offers from Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Louisville and Tennessee. He played slot receiver, inside linebacker and free safety for CAK as a junior last season.

Pope will need to add weight and strength to his frame to fill a role as an end-line tight end, but he's an athletic prospect with upside the Vols needed to add after current tight end commitment Devante Brooks torn the same ACL in his knee a second time within a year.

The 6-4, 299-pound Johnson, who's originally from Georgia, made 46 tackles and forced two fumbles in 10 games with Fort Scott last season. His scholarship offer list includes Baylor, Arizona, Cincinnati, Louisville, North Carolina State, Kentucky and Boise State, among others. Johnson and four-star end Chidi Okonya are the defensive linemen who have committed to the Vols.

Georgia offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm, who committed to Tennessee prior to the spring game in April, re-opened his recruitment last weekend and reportedly is now favoring Auburn.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com

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