I had a blast," Riley said of his weekend in Knoxville. "I know the coaches were down because the didn't win the game, but I still had a great trip. You hear a lot about the fans and the environment in the SEC and it was all true, it's a lot different than it is out West."
"Everybody knows what he did at Tampa Bay, and him being there means that you're going to get the best possible coaching every day at Tennessee," Riley observed. "Talking to the players there you can tell they all love playing for him, and if you get a chance to go on to the next level after college, that would be a great recommendation to have."
"Me and coach Cregg talked to my mom today before I left and just discussed some things, I'd like to get back there with her so she could see everything for herself," Riley noted. "Distance isn't going to be the biggest thing for me if I find a place that feels comfortable. I didn't mind the flight this weekend at all."
"If they blow me away then I might bring her back to show her," Riley said. "Me and my mom are really close. She's my biggest fan and she's always there for me."
"Me and coach Cregg talked to my mom today before I left and just discussed some things, I'd like to get back there with her so she could see everything for herself," Riley noted.
.“It went well, I had a blast,” Riley told InsideTennessee.com late Sunday night. “The Tennessee fans are incredible, they knew who I was, and they made me feel very welcomed and wanted.”
Due to the relationship he had built long distance with the Volunteer coaching staff, Riley had lofty expectations of what his trip was going to be like.
“Coach (James) Cregg had been telling me for a long time how nice the campus was and how great the game day environment would be,” Riley said. “It blew me away; the game day experience
"I had a blast," Riley said. "I had a chance to be with some top recruits. I was there with Jeff Luc and Matt Elam, who I am good friends with."
"It was a great atmosphere," Riley said. "There were 102,000 fans there and I was kind of disappointed and kind of bummed that the Vols lost, but I got a chance to listen to Coach Lane Kiffin talk after the game. His post game speech and he was just saying how they just have to believe in themselves they're a championship team and just mark that they're going to win next week. I just loved the attitude and the confidence that Coach Kiffin had in the team that he knows that they're going to win next week and they are going to practice so hard this week."
"I wasn't tempted to commit because I know I have four other visits ready to go," Riley said. "It's going to be hard to make a commitment right now."