KNOXVILLE – After Saturday’s season-ending loss to Vanderbilt, Jeremy Pruitt had a simple message for anybody considering the Tennessee football program:
“I think if a young man wants an opportunity to play in the SEC really early, this is a really good place to start.”
That’s the challenge for Pruitt and his coaching staff, to get the type of players a Volunteers program coming off back-to-back seasons with no bowl will need to compete at a consistent level. Injuries and a lack of depth at certain positions became evident at points during the season, especially on the offensive line.
TENNESSEE KNOWN COMMITMENTS
Name – Position – Size – RatingChris Akporoghene – OL – 6-4, 290 – 3-starAaron Beasley – ATH – 6-1, 220 – 3-starSean Brown – TE – 6-5, 250 – 3-starWarren Burrell – DB – 6-0, 170 – 3-starJalil Clemons – DE – 6-2, 238 – 3-starLeDarrius Cox – DT – 6-4, 305 – 3-starTyus Fields – DB – 5-10, 182 – 4-starAnthony Harris – DB – 6-2, 171 – 4-starRoman Harrison – DE – 6-2, 241 – 3-starJackson Lampley – OL – 6-4, 299 – 4-starJackson Lowe – TE – 6-5, 242 – 4-starLakia Henry – LB – 6-1, 230 – 4-starRamel Keyton – WR – 6-3, 182 – 4-starBrian Maurer – QB – 6-3, 184 – 3-starMelvin McBride – OL – 6-2, 300 – 3-starJaylen McCollough – DB – 6-0, 194 – 4-starDarel Middleton – DT – 6-7, 290 – 3-starWanya Morris – OL – 6-6, 311 – 5-starElijah Simmons – DT – 6-1, 353 – 3-starSavion Williams – DT – 6-4, 315 – 3-star
That appears to be a position the coaches have targeted as one they’ll need to improve. In 2017 the program was hurt by the injuries that decimated the line; this year it was the combination of injuries and the lack of size at the position in general, as the previous staff wanted smaller linemen for the spread offense, whereas Pruitt wants bigger bodies.