KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee football team and head coach Jeremy Pruitt welcomed 10 early enrollees to campus this month as the first members of the 2019 recruiting class to arrive on Rocky Top.
All 10 scholarship early enrollees are enrolled in class, officially on campus and will be eligible to participate in spring practice.
The early enrollee class includes: offensive lineman Chris Akporoghene (Seymour, Tenn.), defensive back Warren Burrell (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett), linebacker Quavaris Crouch (Charlotte, N.C./Harding University), defensive back Tyus Fields (Cornelius, N.C./Hough), running back Eric Gray (Memphis, Tenn./Lausanne Collegiate School), wide receiver Ramel Keyton (Marietta, Ga/Marietta), tight end Jackson Lowe (Cartersville, Ga./Cartersville), quarterback Brian Maurer (Ocala, Fla./West Port), defensive back Jaylen McCollough (Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove) and offensive lineman Wanya Morris (Loganville, Ga./Grayson).
“I am very excited to have these young men officially become a part of our program and enrolled in classes here at Tennessee,” Pruitt said. “This is a tremendous group on and off the field. Many of these players were captains of their high school football teams and led their teams deep into the state playoffs. They have the character traits to become successful on the field, in the classroom, and in life after their time at Tennessee. Having them here as early enrollees will be a great benefit to them as they are able to receive a jump start in their adjustment to college life and academics, in addition to athletics. Their futures are bright.”
McCollough and Morris showcased their skills in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game, while Gray, Keyton and Crouch starred in the 2019 All-American Bowl. McCollough led a Hillgrove High defense that allowed only 14.3 points per game in the 2018 regular season en route to a school best 12-1 record, and Morris recorded 73 pancake blocks in helping Grayson rush for nearly 200 yards per game in 2018. Gray was a three-time Tennessee Mr. Football Winner (2016, 2017, 2018) and Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year twice (2017 & 2018), setting the Tennessee state record for career touchdowns with 138. Keyton totaled 184 receptions for over 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging over 100 yards per game in his high school career. Crouch racked up 51 tackles and 14 sacks in 2017, while also rushing for 3,246 yards and 33 touchdowns at Harding University High School in Charlotte, N.C.
Maurer, an Elite 11 quarterback, set the Marion County single-season passing record in 2018 with 3,543 yards and finished his high school career with a county-record 7,664 yards and 64 touchdowns. Lowe helped lead Cartersville to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the state championship game in 2018. Akporoghene started all nine games on an IMG Academy offensive line, blocking for a running attack that averaged over 200 yards per game.
Burrell helped lead North Gwinnett HS to a 14-1 record and Georgia Class 7A State Championship in 2017, while Fields totaled 182 tackles and seven interceptions during prep career helping Hough High School post an 11-3 record and advance to the state quarterfinals in 2018.
Complete bios on each early enrollee:
Chris Akporoghene
Warren Burrell
Quavaris Crouch
Tyus Fields
Eric Gray
Ramel Keyton
Jackson Lowe
Brian Maurer
Jaylen McCollough
Wanya Morris
Tennessee football announces 10 early enrollees
