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Hooker: May evaluations lead to June's bounty
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Following a whirlwind of recruiting action in June, now is a good time to look back at Tennessee's 11 commitments for the 2009 class.
There have been commitments that have given UT fans reason to celebrate and others that have given fans reason to question their ability.
The following prospects are listed in the order in which they committed with a month-by-month breakdown. They encompass almost half of UT's projected signing class, which figures to have approximately 25 signees.
April
Every class needs a strong start. The Vols accomplished that goal and laid some inroads for future success.
Je'Ron Stokes: UT started its 2009 class with Stokes, one of the top receivers in the nation. The Vols made their impression with Stokes years ago with good friend Mark Jones, a former UT standout, and his father pastor Harry Jones.
Dominique Allen: Allen has the size and athletic ability to be a productive fullback. His close relationship with Marsalis Teague, a fellow high-rated prospect/high school teammate at Henry County High in Paris, certainly helped.
Damien Thigpen: A class can never have too many speedy, versatile athletes. The Vols jumped on Thigpen in April before his stock grew any higher.
May
UT's progress slowed in May with only one commitment. But it was the work during the spring evaluation period that led to a productive June.
Toney Williams: A sought-after prospect - except by the neighboring Georgia Bulldogs. UT saw an opportunity and took it.
June
In terms of number of commitments, few summer months in recent history can compare. But did the Vols get too excited on some borderline prospects?
Kevin Revis: Phillip Fulmer took this one from good friend David Cutcliffe, now the head coach at Duke. Revis held only one scholarship offer - from the Blue Devils. Expected to play center, Revis is certainly a project.
Jarvis Giles: It's not often that UT pulls a top-100 prospect out of Florida. That was the case with Giles, who had Florida, Miami and Florida State on his trail. Perhaps the biggest pickup in the 2009 class so far. Certainly helped momentum. Strong effort by first-year UT running backs coach Stan Drayton.
Nyshier Oliver: The second highly rated prospect, along with Giles, that UT picked up in its summer camp. Oliver is one of the top athlete prospects in the northeast. He'll fit in nicely in UT's talented secondary. At this point, UT was rolling.
Aubrey Phillips: Also committed during UT's camp, Phillips brought size to the class (6-6, 310) as the Vols beat out Penn State, Louisville, Memphis, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech.
JerQuari Schofield: A questionable pickup, Schofield only had offers from Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb. Still, size is sometimes worth a gamble. Schofield is 6-6 and 298 pounds. UT received five commitments during its summer camp.
Bryce Petty: UT wanted two quarterbacks for the 2009 class. The first was Petty, who only had offers from New Mexico and Portland State. The question was would Petty scare off a higher-rated quarterback prospect?
Josh Nunes: The answer to the above question is "No." Nunes, one of the top-20 quarterback prospects in the nation, committed to UT without ever seeing first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson's offense in action in the SEC or visiting UT's campus. Great sales job by Clawson.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by tngeoff on June 28, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good stuff.
Posted by andy112382 on June 28, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll have to see what I can watch of Schofield, he goes to high school in Aiken, SC which is just up the road from my home. I'm sure I will catch something about him on the local sports shows.
Josh Nunes sounds better and better the more I read about him, and this from multiple sources, not just one out of five sites saying good things.
Giles is a superb compliment to Williams, as ESPN said, we have our future 'thunder and lightening.'
Posted by nicksjuzunk on June 29, 2008 at 5:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the article KNS. Now let's buckle down and get the elusive D-linemen! I hear that they are a little more rare than the spotted ape, which has been sighted on UT campus in the past.
Posted by iowavol on June 29, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who are the d-lineman coming in next year? We have 3 or 4?
Posted by hglover40 on June 29, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SEC recruting for 2009 -
The info is from Rivals.com. I came up with the order myself.
#1 LSU 1 - 5 star
6 - 4 star
6 - 3 star
#2 GA 8 - 4 star
3 - 3 star
#3 TN 4 - 4 star
5 - 3 star
2 - NR
#4 FL 5 - 4 star
1 - 3 star
#5 Aub 3 - 4 star
7 - 3 star
7 - NR
#6 AL 3 - 4 star
3 - 3 star
1 - NR
#7 Miss 2 - 4 star
6 -3 star
1 - NR
#8 KU 6 - 3 star
4 - NR
#9 Ark 1 - 4 star
3 -3 star
1 - NR
#10 ole Miss 4 - 3 star
1 - NR
#11 SC 3 - 3 star
2 - NR
#12 Vandy 2 - 3 star
2 - NR
Posted by nicksjuzunk on June 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hglover40,
You are obviously a man of disturbed obsession. I like it. Carry on old chap!
Posted by ButchIsBack on June 29, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The KNS and Hooker list 11 commitments. The Chatt paper list 14. Why the difference? Anyone know?
Posted by Cherokee on June 29, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Butch, my guess is that the paper is counting three guys from last year who will count against this year's class. I cannot remember who they are off the top of my head.
Posted by givehim6 on June 29, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All committed without seeing clawsonc coach a season yet, wow. Hope he can live up to his reputation. Now we need that kind of magic on the D side.
Posted by RJ_Vol on June 29, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, we need to make them February signings.
Posted by VOLS85 on June 29, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Butch,
I believe it is because we have some JUCO guys that are not added to the list. I believe at least one is on the D-line...someone correct me if I'm wrong...
Posted by iowavol on June 29, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was thinking that 2 or 3 were d-lineman.
Posted by budrhon on June 29, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It means nothing until they sign on the dotted line.
Posted by BigVolinCarolina on June 29, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And it also means nothing until they prove that they can perform on the field.
Posted by invisiblekid on June 30, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
May be off a little, but I believe the DL players that are throwing the numbers off on the recruiting counts are Rae Sykes, Cory Hall, Gerald Williams and Rufus Williams.
Posted by mikes70gto on July 1, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I.K. that is exactly why.All three should be coming in this fall.With the addition of the three the defense should have a strong showing,add Morley,Martin,and Donald you've got a pretty good defense. I feel that Chavis is going to have to put in a new wrinkle on some blitz pacages this year with the talent at linebacker.
Posted by hooverd283 on July 1, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
played golf with a bunch of gators over the w/e...all were very cocky and talking trash ABOUT OUR SEPT. DATE IN K-TOWN....I LET THEM TALK AS THEY USUALLY DO AND JUST POINTED TO THE CALENDAR AND MARKED SEPT 20....WE'LL DO OUR TALKING ON THE FILED...DAMN I'M FIRED UP ALREADY!
Posted by 4114 on July 2, 2008 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All this talent going to waste as long as CPF is still running the show. 10 years and counting without a ring.
Posted by gnm53108 on July 2, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
09 Recruiting is off to a great start.Just think how great its going to be after we bring home a championship this year.
More frost brewed koolaid please.
Posted by pdhuff on July 2, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Orange koolade sales are running against the national economy trend.
Posted by Harrygh on July 5, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
February is a long way off and some of these commits seem to be reaches. The weak recruiting following the 2005 and 2007 seasons may have left the VOLS with a definite lack of depth and talent. If this years team can manage to win 8 or 9 games, the coaching staff may be able to recover, providing they can get a top 10 signing list, but if UT looses five games, the downhill slide will continue and the head coache's 2014 contract will be
embarrassing.
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