Jalen Berger made the most of his spring break last week by hitting the road to visit a handful of the 20 colleges that already have extended scholarship offers to him. He decided to include a stop at Tennessee. The four-star Class of 2020 athlete from Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, N.J., traveled to Tennessee on Friday during a four-day trip that allowed him to see four different schools, and he said his first look at the Vols surpassed his expectations.
I wasn't expecting the campus to be so big and the facilities to be as great as they were, said Berger, whos ranked by 247Sports as the No. 105 overall prospect and No. 8 athlete in the 2020 class. I wasnt expecting that, because I dont know too much about Tennessees football, except for, like, (former Vols running back) Alvin Kamara, of course. I never really thought about Tennessee at all until I got the offer, and I just wanted to check it out.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Berger said he also visited Penn State on April 4, Florida on April 5 before stopping at Tennessee, and he ended the trip with a visit to Kentucky on Saturday. Berger said getting a firsthand look at the Vols facilities, including Neyland Stadium, was the highlight of his trip to Tennessee. It was amazing, he said. Walking around the stadium, it was amazing. Their stadium holds 100,000 people. Just playing in front of that many people is just amazing.
Coach Osovet, hes always staying on top of me, Berger said. Im 2020, so he cant really call me. But Ill call him every other week because he likes to have conversations with me to build a good relationship. During his visit to Tennessee, he said new Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt and Osovet sat down with me for about an hour, just talking about the running backs they have now and the opportunities he could have playing as a true freshman there.
He was talking about ways they can get me the ball either move me out (to) wide receiver, running back, direct snaps, Berger said. Tennessee primarily is recruiting him, he said, to play running back. They want me at running back, but theyll motion me out at wide receiver, throw the ball just find different ways to get me the ball, he said, adding that most teams are discussing the same type of role.
Berger said hes now thinking about stopping by at a game to see Tennessee again later this year and experience the game-day atmosphere in Knoxville. Florida also impressed Berger enough during last weeks trip to make him want to visit the Gators again to attend one of their games. Im planning to go back to Florida soon, he said. Ill probably stop by a game when they play LSU. He said hes thinking about going to Ohio States spring game this weekend. Beyond that, he said he doesnt have any additional visits planned.
