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Tennessee fans continue to wait and see which prospects will continue to be pursued by new head coach Derek Dooley and staff. Dooley inherited the reigns to the Tennessee program right before signing day, and finished the class with flying colors. Now his attention has turned to sorting through the 2011 offers issued by the old staff, and deciding the direction he will go. Watts Dantzler is a recruit that received early attention by Lane Kiffin and company but has not heard from the new staff. However there is a tie to coach Dooley that will keep Tennessee on his radar.
“Yeah I have an offer from Tennessee, but it was from when Lane Kiffin was there. I have not heard from the new coaching staff at this time. I am trying to go to Tennessee next weekend though for their junior day. My dad played for Coach Dooley’s father back in the day, so I know he is excited about the coaching change that has taken place there.”
Watts has generated an early buzz regarding his recruitment. Fresh off of his claimed top five and top 11 list, he added a little more detail about the list.
“I’m honestly pretty open right now. I know I just listed a top 5 group of Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Georgia. But I kind of felt pressured to with everyone always asking. It just seemed like it would make it easier. I’m very open to all the schools who want to recruit me. I have 18 offers at this time, and I have heard from at least over 70 schools in some fashion.”
Watts continued to talk about any other visits and what he is planning on doing this winter and spring.
“I’m also headed to North Carolina on April 10th. I doubt I will compete in many combines, just school day camps and stuff like that. Right now I’m playing basketball and that is pretty fun. I plan on working on my footwork this spring, and also want to get my hips better. There’s always tons of stuff to work on, can’t take a day off.”
18 offers is a great start for a young junior. But one look at Watts’ tape and it’s easy to see why college coaches are lining up to offer the 6’7″ 305 offensive lineman.
“Well I’m a big guy that can play football, so that’s probably why I’m getting offered. (chuckling) I think I have pretty good feet. Whenever a school has seen my tape they have offered pretty quickly after. I think I’ll take all 5 official visits probably. I want to enjoy this once in a lifetime process. I’m just looking for that feeling when I go to these schools, I’ll know it when I feel it. Everyone seems to be talking about me playing tackle. I don’t care really, I just love to play football. I love to pancake a guy, put him flat on his back. My friends say I’m a ‘gentle giant’, but not when I’m on the field.”
Watts continued to say that despite the offers there are still a few schools he wouldn’t mind hearing more from.
“I definitely would like to hear more from Florida, Notre Dame. Coach Craig left Tennessee to go to USC, I think they will offer soon as well. I think I will take one visit out west, I don’t know if it will be to USC, or maybe Oregon, but I’ll take a trip out there I think. I like Oregon too, it would be nice to hear more from them as well.”
Keep an eye on this rising star who appears to be anyone’s game at this point.
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