Good Morning, Everyone,

Signing Day 2016 nears and I decided to send you a list of the Vol’s projected Official Visits for the days remaining for this signing period.  At this time the Tennessee Class is not rated very highly and this is due more to the number of commitments than the quality of the kids.  This could change in the coming weeks with additional commitments as the class fills.   We should note that the first classes for Butch were all trying to address both “Starters” and “Immediate Backups” due to a lack of both depth and talent.   This year the Vols have enough returning talent to address both starters on all sides of the ball but the backups as well.  Butch and his staff are faced with a more difficult task of recruiting kids that are talented enough to challenge for playing time against returning players who are not only talented but also more experienced with multiple SEC and Bowl Games under their belts, not to mention by next fall two years in the Vol Strength Programs.

This class appears to be set for 20 to 22 signees due to the number of returning players.

Given that these are the uncommitted kids I have found that the Vols are looking at to fill the remaining slots for this class:

Visits prior to January.  These kids are uncommitted at this time.

Lavert Hill – DB – 4 ****, #7 CB  – Nov 6

Willie Johnson – WR / ATH – Not Rated – Dec 5 – RAN 4.31 40 AT Florida State Camp

Jeffery Simmons – DE – 4****, # 6 DE – Nov 6

Marcus Tatum – OT – 3***, #22 OT – Nov 6

Donnie Corley – WR – 4****, #16 WR – Nov 6

 January 16

        ArKeem Byrd – RB – 3***, #61 RB

        Marquez Callaway – ATH – 4****, # 12 ATH

        JaQuan Bailey – DE – 3***, #106 DE

        Terrell Lucus – DE – Unranked/ 3***, Duke Commitment

        Binjimen Victor – WR – # 5 WR – 4****

January 22

        Mykel  Jones – WR – 4****, # 43 WR  I also saw him listed as a possible Jan 15 visit

        James Pierre – S – 3***, #66 Safety

        Aaron Robinson – CB – 3***, #87 CB

January 29

        Derrick Brown – DT – 5*****, #4 DT

        Nigel Warrior – Safety – 5*****, #2 Safety

        Ahnon Richards – Ath – 4****, # 11 ATH

        Rico Dowdle – RB – Unranked/ 3*** –   Note:  4.37 40

        Jaleel Laguins – LB – 4****, GA Commitment

        Clyde Chriss – WR – 4****, TEX A&M COMMITMENT

        Landon Dickerson – OG – 4****, #4 OG

NOTE:  The Vols are still under consideration for Mecole Hardeman Jr the 5*****, # 1 Athlete who can play DB /WR

More later.  Go Vols!!

Bill