The Recruiting Fix: Riding the Wave

It’s crazy times in Tennessee Recruiting. Just when we learn who one guy is another commits to Tennessee. Like I have been telling you faithful readers since that fateful evening, we will sign players. There is no difficulty in that. The names just might not be the same ones you were familiar with before the split.

And while we can sit here and debate whether one four star guy is better than another that we lost, we have talent and more importantly, we have stability in our program.

I will try and address as many names as possible.

Prospects that have committed since we last spoke are Martaze Jackson who looks like a linebacker at the next level, QB Nash Nance who as most of you know has a very talented teammate, RB Rajion Neal TE Mychal Rivera, and LB Glen Stanley.

I’ll touch on each briefly as we have much to get to. Martaze Jackson is listed as a pass-rushing DE by Rivals, but I see him more as an OLB at the next level. He has the speed and the flexibility to play the position.

Jackson led his team to the Alabama 5A state championship and was a Honorable Mention All-State selection as a senior. He also holds offers from Arkansas and UAB.

Nash Nance is a quarterback at the next level. There is no question. He is a pro style guy with the speed and accuracy to make plays on the run. He is underrated as a two star player. Nance holds offers to Arkansas, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Vanderbilt — where he was a long-time commitment, and Louisville. He got strong looks from Florida as well.

I’m not naive enough to sit here and tell you that he would have a committable offer to UT if his best friend and teammate were not named Da’Rick Rogers, but he is not a guy that is a guaranteed clipboard holder at the next level.

While it has been repeated that Nance and Rogers are not a package deal. There is no question that Tennessee’s chances with Rogers rose exponentially with the commitment of Nance. The two are like brothers and Nance’s father has served as a mentor to Da’Rick. I would be very surprised if Rogers doesn’t end up following his friend to the Volunteers.

Rajion Neal was in my opinion, the better of the two similarly named tailbacks we were pursuing at the eleventh hour. Neal is a virtual clone of Rajaan Bennett but has breakaway speed that Bennett does not. Neal is a load to bring down already at 5’11” 214 lbs and will more than likely be a third down-type back at the next level.

In my opinion Neal will be the only back we take in this class. I do not see us taking a commitment from Bennett. Even, as some have suggested, as a linebacker. I don’t see him as a linebacker at the next level. He doesn’t have the height or the quickness.

Louisiana Tech’s offense is very TE-friendly so with the glaring need at the position, Coach Dooley made it a priority to look to the JuCo ranks to find immediate help at the position which is where he spotted Mychal Rivera.

Rivera is a very versatile TE that can line up at multiple positions all over the field and help out in a variety of ways.

He originally committed to Oregon out of High School but did not qualify for admittance. Rivera also held offers from South Carolina and Kansas State.

I am more excited about LB Glen Stanley than any other commitment we have gotten this week. This is a guy that was severely under-recruited coming out of JuCo and has “impact player” written all over him. This is a guy that lessens the loss of a guy like Bruce Irvin somewhat.

He is 6’2″ 245lbs already and lightning quick for his size. This guy is going to be a force at OLB. I see him seeing the field early likely in passing scenarios as a blind-side rusher.

Let’s look at potential visitors for the weekend.

Damien Robinson’s attempts to make it into Knoxville this weekend for a visit were foiled by the weather. He instead will be making a trip to visit Memphis.

Robinson has never been to Knoxville but still lists Tennessee as a finalist for his services along with Mississippi State and Arkansas.

Rajaan Bennett did not make to Knoxville either. I don’t know that serious efforts were made to get him here to begin with after securing a commitment from Rajion Neal.

I expect Bennett to sign with Vanderbilt.

Markeith Ambles is stuck in Charlotte after an attempt to make it into Knoxville for a final look at the Vols prior to choosing a school on Signing Day. A connecting flight from Atlanta was halted due to a cancellation and Ambles has been put up for the night. He will still make it into Knoxville in the morning and be able to make the visit.

There are rumors that Ambles may not choose a school on Wednesday and elect to take longer to choose between USC, Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU.

I say the effort to make it here for his last visit before Signing Day says a lot about where UT is in his decision. It is clearly difficult for Ambles to tell UT no. So, I’m saying there’s a chance.

Junior college defensive back Dave Clark did make it into Knoxville and is on hand for a visit this weekend. Clark was supposedly going to Louisiana Tech prior to Dooley’s exit and subsequent hire at UT. He has long ties with the coach but does not yet possess an offer to Tennessee.

I wouldn’t be shocked by an offer and a commitment this weekend with Clark. There is a need for another defensive back in this class and Clark is good enough to deserve an offer.

Clark is also considering Colorado and still lists Louisiana Tech as a finalist. All indications are that he will end up a Vol.

Also making it in this weekend were linebackers John Propst, and Raiques Crump along with DB Dontavis Sapp.

Propst, a middle linebacker, is committed to West Virginia but giving the Vols strong consideration.

Crump has already tried to commit to the Vols on one occasion and told to wait. Whenever, if ever, the coaches are ready to accept his commitment, expect him to be a Vol though that is still up in the air.

I would expect coaches to see how things pan out for them on Signing Day to determine what to do with Crump. A commitment likely means we missed out on someone or somebodies else.

He has yet to be rated by Rivals.

Sapp is a product of football powerhouse Valdosta where it is difficult to be overlooked. Still, here we are right before signing day and he is rated a two star player by Rivals and committed to East Carolina. Illinois is his only other offer.

I cannot see him fitting into the Vols’ future plans.

Trevor Gillette is another possible visitor this weekend. It is not likely, but it bears mentioning. Gillette, a DE/TE/long snapper, is firmly committed to Rice.

Random Ruminations

I wouldn’t worry about USC with Eddrick Loften. There is not significant enough interest on either side to indicate anything more than a courtesy visit on the part of both. He will be a Vol.

There is certainly a possibility that Nash Nance and Da’Rick Rogers could make a return visit to Knoxville this weekend for an unofficial. If it does not happen, you can attribute it to the weather and not an indication of where Rogers ends up. The effort alone speaks volumes.

The defection of strength coach Aaron Ausmus to USC is pretty much exactly what happened with Willie Mack Garza. Neither was promised a position with the Vols.

The thinking here is that Dooley wants to go with a football-only strength coach.

OL Dalvin Glass is a strong candidate to end up in the Vols’ 2010 recruiting class. He called the former staff nearly every day in December to try and generate some interest. Despite the lack of interest from Vol coaches, Dalvin had Tennessee and Oklahoma State as his two finalists.

Now the Vols are very interested and Glass holds a UT offer. Despite not making it in for this weekend, UT is considered a heavy favorite for his services.

Glass is a guard at the next level and is built for it. He also holds offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, and Kansas State in addition to UT and OSU.

I wouldn’t look for one-time UT commit Calvin Smith to end up re-committing to the Vols. Look for him to end up with his teammate, Corey Lemonier at FSU.

Chaz Green is out for the Vols as well. He will be at USC or Florida. Likely Florida.

UT leads for James Stone. Alabama had once considered him a lock to go there. Now the Vols have all the momentum and are favorites to land him.

Expect John Cullen to sign with USC, Kansas State, Oklahoma or Utah. Utah is the likley choice.

WR Kody Williams is a possibility largely hinging on what happens with Rogers and Ambles. He is a legit prospect and whoever gets him is getting a steal. UConn and Illinois are in the picture as are a host of other schools. This may be a matter of just not having the space. It’s something to keep an eye on though.

Marcques Dixon is all-Vol. Ignore anything alluding to the contrary.

ATH Delvin Jones will likely be headed to prep school or Junior College. He doesn’t even have a test score yet recorded with the NCAA. He may sign with Ole Miss on Wednesday, but all indications are he will not make it into school. He is under the impression also that Ralph Williams is also headed to Ole Miss. Others are of the same opinion. He hasn’t given the current Vols’ staff much opportunity to recruit him.

Watch for LSU with J.C. Copeland. He is there this weekend on an official visit.

Watch for a late switch to UT from AL OL Seth Reedy. Other prospects and space could dictate this one.

DT Pat McNeil is a fall-back option for UT. (Likely hedging on what John Brown decides to do. I think Brown will be a Vol.)

Forget about Shon Coleman.

The Vols are trying with Ole Miss commit LB Clarence Jackson but all indications are that he will stick with Ole Miss.

OT Eric Lawson figures to stick with the Red Raiders. He had no intention of visiting UT this weekend.

LB Christian Jones and DB Nickell Robey continue to be long-shots for the Vols.

Cross Ahmad Dixon off of your wishlist as well. He’s going to Baylor.

Fullback Martez Eastland would commit to the Vols if offered but does not fill a need.

If we have enough happenings I may do another version of the Recruiting Fix right before Signing Day. Stay tuned and as always, check VolNation.com first for your recruiting info. More accurate and timely information does not exist on the web.