“He was familiar with (Tennessee),” Luttrell said of his father. “He played high school football in Tennessee, and then he coached in Tennessee a little bit. It was always his dream to go to Tennessee, so he was hyped that I got the chance to be in the stadium, talk to the coaches and all that.”
He said his father “grew up right outside Knoxville” and played football at Carson-Newman, where his mother also played soccer. He said his grandmother also is from the Knoxville area and “still lives there.”
Luttrell said his ties to the area are just one of the reasons he’s high on Tennessee.
“I think one of the biggest things, comparing the offers that I have, is just outside of football, (what) does the school have to offer me? And Tennessee is definitely one of the ones that offers a lot outside of football, just being only three-and-a-half hours from home,” he said.
“Family’s still in Tennessee. People know the last name Luttrell when I go up there. It’s cool to have those connections already up in Tennessee.”
He also enjoyed working with first-year Tennessee coach
Josh Heupel’s staff on the field. Luttrell said he received positive feedback from the Vols after the camp, and he has stayed in contact with defensive backs coach
Willie Martinez and defensive analyst
Chad Creamer since last month.
“They see me as a safety — like, a bigger safety who can come down and fit in those run gaps, and then also play in coverage,” Luttrell said. “They said they loved the way I competed and held my composure. They said I own my leverage very well on defense, and then, coming out of the camp, I was definitely one of their top 2023 prospects.
“I’m calling two to three times a week talking to Coach Martinez, which is the (defensive backs) coach, and then Coach Creamer just about getting back up there and planning everything out.”
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