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During this past season, Tennessee started 11 freshmen from its 2014 recruiting class. Of the Vols’ 71 players that appeared in the season opener, 32 were freshmen. The previous record for freshman debuts in Week 1 was 12 in 2010.
Head coach Butch Jones signed a top-5 recruiting class in 2014, despite finishing the previous season with a 5-7 record. The Vols look to continue that success in 2015 with the added incentive of a bowl appearance.
Tennessee’s current class ranks No. 5 overall, despite the decommitment of inside linebacker Cecil Cherry on Monday. But Cherry’s decision could stem from the Vols’ recruitment of four-star linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., who has shown interest since decommiting from Michigan in November.
Tennessee is also favored to sign several other uncommitted four-star targets, including strong-side defensive end Kyle Phillips, all-purpose back Bryce Love and outside linebacker Quart’e Sapp.
Kahlil McKenzie, son of former Vols great and current Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, highlights Tennessee’s current class. McKenzie is a top-10 prospect who improved his stock after a stellar showing at The Opening in July.
Here’s a look at the Vols current 2015 recruiting class.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.
| NAT RANK | PLAYER | H.S. (CITY, STATE) | STAR | POS | HGT | WGT |
| 10 | Kahlil McKenzie | Clayton Valley (Concord, CA) | 5 | DT | 6’4” | 319 |
| 29 | Preston Williams | Lovejoy (Hampton, GA) | 5 | WR | 6’4” | 191 |
| 41 | Shy Tuttle | North Davidson (Lexington, NC) | 4 | DT | 6’3” | 311 |
| 136 | Jack Jones | Oakland (Murfreesboro, TN) | 4 | OT | 6’5” | 290 |
| 173 | Jauan Jennings | Blackman (Murfreesboro, TN) | 4 | DUAL | 6’4” | 188 |
| 191 | Micah Abernathy | Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, GA) | 4 | CB | 6’1” | 187 |
| 233 | Andrew Butcher | Alpharetta (Alpharetta, GA) | 4 | SDE | 6’2” | 242 |
| 260 | Darrell Taylor | Hopewell (Hopewell, VA) | 4 | WDE | 6’4” | 230 |
| 350 | Quinten Dormady | Boerne (Boerne, TX) | 3 | PRO | 6’3” | 210 |
| 355 | Venzell Boulware | Creekside (Fairburn, GA) | 3 | OT | 6’4” | 295 |
| 446 | Quay Picou | Buford (Buford, GA) | 3 | DT | 6’3″ | 287 |
| 479 | Marques Ford | East Bay (Gibsonton, FL) | 3 | SDE | 6’4” | 220 |
| 489 | Zach Stewart | Coalfield School (Coalfield, TN) | 3 | OT | 6’4″ | 295 |
| 611 | Dylan Jackson | Maryville, TN | 3 | SDE | 6’6” | 245 |
| 630 | Kyle Oliver | Oakland (Murfreesboro, TN) | 3 | TE | 6’5″ | 230 |
| 673 | Rocky Reid | Concord (Concord, NC) | 3 | RB | 6’0” | 220 |
| 676 | Chance Hall | Northside (Roanoke, VA) | 3 | OT | 6’5” | 290 |
| 724 | Stephen Griffin | South Mecklenburg (Charlotte, NC) | 3 | S | 6’3″ | 189 |
| 741 | Darrell Miller | Cedar Hill (Cedar Hill, TX) | 3 | CB | 5’10” | 171 |
| 745 | Austin Smith | Buford (Buford, GA) | 3 | OLB | 6’3.5″ | 230 |
| 785 | Vincent Perry | Hillsboro (Nashville, TN) | 3 | APB | 5’11” | 170 |
| N/A | Jocquez Bruce | South Doyle (Knoxville, TN) | 3 | ATH | 5’10” | 260 |
| N/A | Tommy Townsend | Boone (Orlando, FL) | 3 | P | 6’1″ | 240 |
| N/A | Riley Lovingwood | Beech (Hendersonville, TN) | 2 | LS | 6’1″ | 240 |
| JUCO 3 | Alvin Kamara | Hutchinson C.C. (Hutchinson, KS) | 4 | RB | 5’10” | 212 |
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
