ForumsAs if a commitment from one of the nation’s top players wasn’t enough, the Vols got two for the price of one when they went shopping for defensive lineman in Duncan, South Carolina. Byrnes High School is known for producing big time players and is always at the top of the rankings when the season comes to an end. Not only did the UT staff come away with a big time star in Corey Miller, who we introduced you to earlier, but they also got another big time defensive lineman in Brandon Willis.
Similar to Miller, Willis mentioned the opportunity to play for Coach Orgeron and Monte Kiffin as one of the biggest reasons why he chose the University of Tennessee. “I love the history both of them have as coaches and I know I will be in good hands with them coaching me for the next few years. It was just too much to pass up.” Towards the end of their visit to Knoxville the weekend of the UCLA game, Miller and Willis looked at each other and nodded, basically saying, “this is it bro.”
In making this decision the two will get to continue playing together for another four years and continue to wreak havoc on the opposition together. “We have a good chemistry and we feed off of each other every play. I think the two of us coming in will be able to make a huge difference on the defensive line and help the defense continue to be the strongest part of that team.” Taking nothing away from the offense in any way, Willis spoke of some of the recent history the Vols have on the defensive side of the ball and told Vol Nation that he can’t wait to be a part of that history.
“John Henderson, Al Wilson, Haynesworth and definitely Eric Berry have all been superstars there and it makes you want to play defense for UT. I am so excited. I can’t wait to get there, but I have to get through my senior season first. We have some big games left including this weekend when we play against the top team in the country. We are number two so I know they won’t overlook us at all.”
Any time you get two kids with this talent level to come in for the same unit in the same class, you have to be pleased. The fact that they have played together and known each other for years, it makes it that much better. Finally, when you speak to either of these kids you are dealing with a very nice, humble, smart young man. The two of them are definitely going to be valuable to the football team and the university alike.
Like every other year, Byrnes is loaded with talent and the two of them are already working on some of those other players, including Marcus Lattimore, the nation’s number one running back prospect. “Latt has his schools of choice but he is open to checking out anybody. With us heading there and UT being on the rise, there is a chance but I just don’t know about what he wants to do. Either way, we will be working him and some of the other guys we know to let them know that UT is the place to be.”
The fact that this new staff has been able to make this type of impact on the recruiting trail is a credit to them and the history of the UT program. If they are able to close with some of their remaining top prospects, the future of the Vols seems to be absolutely limitless. In the coming seasons, this young talent will have a chance to make the type of impact on the field that this staff is making on the recruiting trail. Until that happens, Vol fans should take solace in the fact that the future isn’t that far away.
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