TOPS IN TENNESSEEThe last decade of No. 1-rated players from the state of Tennessee, according to Rivals.com:2011Antonio RichardsonOffensive lineman, Nashville (Pearl-Cohn), 4 starsCollege: UndecidedSkinny: Richardson, who’s taken official visits to UT, Georgia and Auburn, will decide on signing day. He was the first 2011 prospect UT coach Derek Dooley visited when he took the job.2010Jacques SmithDefensive end, Ooltewah, 4 starsCollege: TennesseeSkinny: Smith enrolled early at UT and made an impact as a reserve pass-rusher. He played in all 13 games, making 24 tackles and registering two sacks, and seems to have a bright future.2009Marlon BrownWide receiver, Memphis (Harding Academy), 4 starsCollege: GeorgiaSkinny: Brown spurned the Vols for Georgia on signing day but has yet to be a consistent threat in the Bulldogs’ passing game, making just 13 catches and scoring just one touchdown in two seasons.2008Barrett JonesOffensive lineman, Memphis (Evangelical Christian School), 4 starsCollege: AlabamaSkinny: His father played basketball at Alabama, so Jones rolling with the Tide wasn’t shocking. After a redshirt season, Jones started at right guard for the 2009 national-title team and appears to have an NFL future.2007Chris DonaldLinebacker, Huntingdon, 5 starsOriginal college: TennesseeSkinny: The state’s last five-star player didn’t live up to the ranking, as Donald could not get on the field at UT. He transferred to UT-Chattanooga, where he earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors last season at defensive end.2006Brandon WarrenTight end, Alcoa, 5 starsOriginal college: Florida StateSkinny: Warren earned Freshman All-America honors at Florida State. After transferring to UT to move closer to home, Warren lasted half a season before former coach Lane Kiffin dismissed him.2005Patrick TurnerWide receiver, Nashville (Goodpasture), 5 starsCollege: Southern CalSkinny: Rated the No. 2 prospect nationally, Turner chose to go west. He was a third-round NFL draft pick after a successful career with the Trojans.2004Demonte BoldenDefensive tackle, Chattanooga (Tyner) 4 starsCollege: TennesseeSkinny: After a year at Hargrave Military Academy, Bolden signed with UT a second time in 2005. He started his junior and senior seasons and finished with 15 career tackles for loss and three sacks.2003Daniel BrooksLinebacker, Jackson (Central-Merry), 4 starsCollege: TennesseeSkinny: A myriad of off-field troubles eventually ended with Brooks’ dismissal from the Vols before the 2005 season, after he registered just 11 tackles in 21 career games, mostly on special teams. He went to Jackson State before returning to UT and earning his degree.2002Gerald Riggs Jr.Running back, Chattanooga (Red Bank), 5 starsCollege: TennesseeSkinny: Riggs was the No. 3 running back prospect and a top 12 recruit nationally. He ran for over 1,100 yards and UT won the SEC East his junior year, but an ankle injury against Alabama ended his senior season early.
The memory from the last day of September remains fresh in Devrin Young’s mind.
“I was in my second-period class,” the Bearden High School star running back and University of Tennessee commitment recalled earlier this week about a call he got from UT coach Derek Dooley.
“That week I had been telling my teacher I’d just been getting calls from coaches. [Dooley] called me when I was in his class. Everybody who knew about my situation was anticipating Tennessee calling me soon, so he was cool about me taking the call.
“They offered me [a scholarship] right then and there, and I was just happy.”