We’re inside of 24 hours until ink hits paper in college football, the most important day of the offseason in the SEC as touted prep seniors sign binding letters of intent.
Tennessee already has secured a Top 10 class, but there should be plenty of drama on National Signing Day, starting with former Ole Miss commitment Drew Richmond.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle reneged on a commitment to the Rebels just days before NSD after a long courtship from Butch Jones. Nothing is official yet, but Wednesday appears to be the Vols’ “gotcha” moment, as Richmond and Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze have unfollowed each other on Twitter.
RELATED: Announcement times for the SEC’s top uncommitted prospects
UT recently lost three-star RB Kendall Bussey to Texas A&M, but landing the 247Sports Composite No. 3 offensive tackle in the nation, along with early enrollee and four-star Jack Jones, should ensure better protection for returning starting QB Josh Dobbs.
Beyond that, Tennessee needs to hold onto prized offensive recruits like four-star WR Preston Williams as other schools try to use the Vols’ uncertainty against them. (Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian left for an NFL job well into January.)
Four-star OT Patrick Allen is expected to choose between Georgia and Tennessee on Wednesday, with all indications he’s leaning toward the Bulldogs. But with UT set to score Richmond, that’s no big loss.
There’s late buzz that junior college WR Camion Patrick will sign with the Vols on Wednesday, potentially lifting the class to 30 signees. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound three-star has worked through some eligibility issues and also has considered Auburn, Louisville and Indiana.
With 10 early enrollees and a touted class all but wrapped up, Jones and company don’t have as much to sweat on National Signing Day.
TENNESSEE’S 2015 RECRUITING CLASS
- National Rank: 4
- SEC Rank: 2
- No. of Commitments: 28
- Rating: 1 five-star, 14 four-star, 12 three-star, 1 two-star
Top incoming offensive players: WR Preston Williams, RB Alvin Kamara
Top incoming defensive players: DT Kahlil McKenzie, DE Kyle Phillips
Primary remaining targets: OT Drew Richmond, OT Patrick Allen, WR Camion Patrick
Best-case scenario: The Vols land Richmond and Patrick, retain the rest of the commitments and sew up the nation’s No. 4 class with a strong group of 30.
VERBAL COMMITMENTS
- Kahlil McKenzie, DT, Five-star
- Preston Williams, WR, Four-star
- Micah Abernathy, CB, Four-star
- Quart’e Sapp, OLB, Four-star
- Justin Martin, CB, Four-star
- Sheriron Jones, QB, Four-star
- Darrell Taylor, DE, Four-star
- Venzell Boulware, OT, Three-star
- Quay Picou, DT, Three-star
- John Kelly, ATH, Three-star
- Zach Stewart, OT, Three-star
- Austin Smith, OLB, Three-star
- Kyle Oliver, TE, Three-star
- Darrell Miller, CB, Three-star
- Vincent Perry, RB, Three-star
- Jocquez Bruce, ATH, Three-star
- Tommy Townsend, P, Two-star
- Riley Lovingood, LS, Two-star
CURRENT CLASS
- Kyle Phillips, DE, Four-star
- Alvin Kamara, RB, Four-star
- Shy Tuttle, DT, Four-star
- Jack Jones, OT, Four-star
- Darrin Kirkland Jr., ILB, Four-star
- Jauan Jennings, QB, Four-star
- Quinten Dormandy, QB, Four-star
- Andrew Butcher, DE, Four-star
- Chance Hall, OT, Three-star
- Stephen Griffin, S, Three-star
Editor’s note: Recruiting rankings are based on 247Sports.com‘s industry composite ranking.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
