WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TENNESSEE?
Tennessee now has 16 commitments in its 2018 class — and it’s only July 4. Spots are filling up quickly, especially along the defensive line. After landing Lawless in May, the Vols have added Litaker, Chatman and now Emerson in just the last three weeks. It’s an impressive haul of trench talent, as all four prospects have the chance to end up as blue-chip players.
It also completes an early priority for Tennessee, as Brady Hoke, Walt Wells and the rest of the staff entered this cycle with a clear-cut goal: Land the in-state #Big3. The Volunteer State has never seen a collection of defensive line talent like Lawless, Litaker and Emerson — and the Vols did well to not only keep them all at home but also lock them up before summer’s end.
As Farrell said, “Emerson is a big commitment for the Vols in many ways. He's an in-state kid who was coveted by everyone and his commitment sends a message to others in the state that a big-timer thinks a title can be won by staying around rather than leaving the state. He and Cade Mays are a great 1-2 punch in state and help in the trenches, which is huge for Tennessee and each can be a leader on their respective sides of the ball.”
Moving forward, Tennessee hopes to sign six defensive lineman in the class, and a couple true pass rushers top the wish list: Dorian Gerald and Azeez Ojulari.
Richard Jibunor, Nick Fulwider and even defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who will visit later this month, are other names for the final few spots as well.
