The Tennessee football program picked up its ninth commitment for the 2020 recruiting cycle when defensive back Lovie Jenkins gave the Volunteers a nonbinding pledge.
The 5-foot-11, 181-pound three-star prospect from Ocoee, Florida, became the third defensive back to commit to the Vols, joining four-star safety Antonio Johnson and four-star junior college player Art Green, who - like Jenkins - projects to play cornerback. He committed to Tennessee on an unofficial visit to the school Wednesday.
Jenkins chose the Vols over 40 other offers, including from Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina State and Notre Dame.
The news came the same day Tennessee announced incoming freshman offensive lineman Melvin McBride was being forced to give up football for medical reasons, leaving the Vols with four of their heralded five new offensive linemen in the program. Tennessee has a commitment from three-star lineman Javontez Spraggins for 2020.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.