Vols Recruiting Nuggets

Vols Still In It With Munchie?

I am hearing that Tennessee might be getting back into the picture of Dual-Threat quarterback Munchie Legaux (New Orleans, LA/Edna Karr). This is interesting information as I previously thought Munchie was eliminating the Volunteers due to a lack of communication with the staff.

There was talk that Munchie was a silent to the Oregon Ducks, but that has died down with a possible visit being pushed back twice. Munchie was expected to visit Oregon in the middle of August and then middle September and now the Legaux family is expected in Eugene during the last weekend of September.

Sources have indicated that the Volunteers might be getting more involved and Munchie could be taking a second look at the Vols staff. This is certainly some interesting developments and once I can get the official word on this VolNation.com will be the first to know.

California D-Tackle High On Vols Coaching Staff

6’4 299 pound George Uko (Chino, CA/Don Antonio Lugo HS) has quickly sky rocketed up some of the top programs boards for defensive tackle after a very impressive performance from this massive tackle at USC’s Rising Stars camp. Until recently, I never really considered Uko a legit possibility for the Tennessee Volunteer program. How quickly recruiting can change. I won’t say the Vols are rising fast but after speaking with a source very close to the situation the Vols could be a dark horse possibly.

Uko was set to announce this summer his college choice and many expected the USC Trojans to once again gobble up talent from California on the defensive side. However, the date that Uko set came and passed and now Uko will be taking official visits all the way into November. It is expected USC still sits on top with Oregon shortly behind the Trojans. Tennessee could be a dark horse due to the success of defensive line coach Ed Orgeron at Tennessee.

Sources say Uko values the success rate that Orgeron and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin have coaching defensive players and most importantly defensive lineman. The connection with these two coaches is said to be what is keeping Tennessee in the running for Uko. The chance to play early is a deciding factor Uko and if the Vol staff can convince Uko he could play early at UT and receive the coaching of these two top coaches, Uko might lean towards UT.

None the less the Vols are looking up a steep cliff for Uko.

Kiffin vs. Pete Carroll Round 2?

It appears that Kiffin is going to be going up against his old boss once again for Safety/Wide Receiver Dietrich Riley (La Canada, CA/Saint Francis High School). Much like Uko, Riley is really interested in being coached by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin at Tennessee but is also reportedly being pushed to head to USC.

Tennessee commit Markeith Ambles has been a constant in Riley’s ear about coming with him to Tennessee and both staring on the field with Riley on defense and Ambles at Wide Receiver. Riley is extremely high on the Vols and enough to make me believe the Vols are leading for Riley’s services.

Don’t count out Pete Carroll and his mighty lure of being a Trojan. The fact that anyone within a days drive of the SC campus grows up wanting an SC offer and playing for the might Trojans will be tough to beat. Being a team coming off a rebuilding year and another possible rebuilding year might scare away this talented Cali prospect. Riley has lots of connections to the SC campus and thus you can’t count out the recruitment of the Trojans.

The Trojans look to be almost full at Safety and are waiting on Sean Parker to possibly commit, and the Trojans have better prospects at wide receiver than Riley. That could lead to Riley heading to Tennessee.

2011 Virginia Backer Interested In Vols

Curtis Grant (Richmond, VA/Hermitage HS) will certainly be one of the top linebackers on the east coast and one Volunteer fans will want to keep tabs on. The 6’3 215 pound backer with 4.6 speed has started to create a buzz within the Richmond community about his ability to go sideline to sideline with the best of them. Grant already has offers from Boston College, Maryland, and Virginia Tech and don’t be surprised for the schools not centrally located to Grant to pick up interest as well.

One school that Grant has seen early in his recruiting process was the Tennessee Volunteer program. Grant went to a camp held in Knoxville by the Vols previous staff during the summer before his sophomore year.

“I checked out Tennessee when I went there for a camp the summer before my Sophomore year,” said Grant. “I thought it was cool. Tennessee is a school I am looking to hear more from and I hope to get more information on them.”

As a sophomore, Grant showed his impressive speed and ability to bring down the ball carrier to the tune of 106 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one fumble recovery for his Panther team. Expect Grant to be a top target for the Vols in 2011

Tagged as: Curtis Grant, Dietrich Riley, George Uko, Munchie Legaux