FreakNotes: Wrap on recruiting weekend; Lady Vols’ big win

It was a gigantic weekend for Tennessee: the men’s basketball team defeated Lipscomb on Saturday and the Lady Vols took down second-ranked Texas at the arena on Sunday (which was a fantastic basketball game, by the way). The Vols also hosted a handful of football visitors on campus and Jeremy Pruitt and staff continue to work hard on the recruiting trail, even though we still haven’t seen a single official announcement on his staff hires for whatever reason.

Here’s your Sunday recap.

• The No. 11 Tennessee ladies (10-0) defeated No. 2 Texas on Sunday, 82-75. [final stats]. Are the Lady Vols back? Chamique Holdsclaw thinks so: “Watching @LadyVol_Hoops against #2 Texas. Haven’t seen a TN team play this hard and together in a long time. The future looks very bright. Nice to see some poise” — The victory marks the second time in Holly Warlick‘s tenure that the team has started the season 10-0.
• The 24th-ranked men’s basketball team isn’t doing too shabby, either, with the season’s sole loss coming at the hands of No. 4 Villanova.
• The early-season performance of the Vols’ basketball team isn’t going unnoticed. Tennessee is projected as a No. 7 seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology.
• Former Tennessee quarterback coach Mike Canales is leaving for UTEP. He wrote a classy parting message to Tennessee fans. — Rocky Top was a great “Home Sweet Home” to the Canales family. Thank you Volnation and Best wishes to the Vols next year. #GBO
• Another former Tennessee staff member, Bob Shoop, was ‘officially’ announced as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State.
• Texans rookie and former Vol LaTroy Lewis yesterday became the 17th NFL player to record a sack in his first career game.
• I love this quote: “Phillip Fulmer: “I hired Pruitt one day, and the next day we’ve got 6 coaches here, then the next day they’re on the road recruiting. I’ve passed my (NCAA recruiting) test and I’m ready to hit the road here a little bit. I’ve made a lot of phone calls.”

Tennessee Vols Football Recruiting

• Tennessee quarterback commit Michael Penix received an offer from Florida State yesterday.
• Class of 2018 4-star Florida running back Jerome Ford picked up a Tennessee offer. Listed at 5-11, 195, he’s rated the No. 6 all-purpose back by 247Sports. He’s scheduled to officially visit Alabama this week.
• It appears that 2018 Nashville offensive tackle Tanner Antonutti snagged a photo with Phillip Fulmer while he was on campus for his official visit. He got a pic with Pruitt too, of course.
• Four-star tight end Michael Ezeike from Ontario, CA was offered by Tennessee yesterday. He recently decommitted from Oregon. He’s 6-5, 220 and rated by 247 as the No. 9 tight end in the country.
• This tweet from four-star defensive end Greg Emerson seems positive for Tennessee. He was on campus over the weekend.
• Alontae Taylor‘s visit also seemed to go well. The 4-star wide receiver/athlete announced that Tennessee is now his leader. Taylor cancelled his Louisville visit and will return to Knoxville next weekend instead.
• Paxton Brooks went with the photos in full football gear on his visit.
• After being targeted last week by new Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, Four-star Florida wide receiver Jacob Copeland announced he’ll visit Tennessee. He’s the No. 9 receiver in the country, according to the 247 composite rankings.
• It appears coach Pruitt is reaching into the grad transfer ranks to try to find immediate help on the offensive line. Tennessee offered former California lineman Dwayne Wallace. He reportedly plans to visit Knoxville on Thursday. Listed at 6-5, 330 pounds, Wallace played in all 12 games for California in 2016, starting nine of those, but did not play in 2017.
• Is Tennessee getting a visit from 4-star JUCO tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson?
• Add yet another wide receiver offer to the list: the Vols offered 2018 4-star Georgia wide receiver Rashod Batemon. He’s been committed to Minnesota since June. Apparently, he’s been recently upgraded to a 4-star.
• Tennessee commit Ollie Lane announced he’ll be signing on December 20th at 10 a.m. at Gibbs High School.
• Brandon Cross, a three-star cornerback from Orlando, Florida decommitted from Tennessee today, after visiting Knoxville over the weekend.
• Tennessee offered 3-star California safety Nikko Hall.
• Tennessee offered 3-star Louisiana athlete Michael Williams.
• Obviously desperately seeking immediate help on the offensive line, Tennessee offered 3-star JUCO offensive tackle from Virginia, Chase Brown.

Thanks for reading.