Tennessee lands commitment from No. 5 all-purpose running back
The Tennessee recruiting train continues to barrel down the tracks as the Vols picked up commit No. 21 Wednesday night from Clearwater, Fla., athlete C.J. Cotman.
Cotman announced the news via Twitter, although with the caveat that he is still open to every school in his recruitment:
Thanks for the Edit @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/Ydd2CJheKM
— Cj Cotman (@CotmanCj) July 21, 2016
The 5-foot-10, 173-pound Cotman is rated as a three-star prospect, the nation’s No. 5 all-purpose back, the No. 43 overall recruit from Florida, according to 247Sports. The rising senior currently has scholarship offers from 32 schools including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State among others.
While rated as a running back by 247Sports, Cotman told Paul Fortenberry of Volquest the Vols plan to use him on defense, specifically at corner. Cotman also indicated he could play offense as well as special teams for Tennessee.
Upon hearing the news, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones sent out this tweet:
Great night to be a #Vol!!! Love getting speed from the #SunshineState!!! #TenneSpeed 🍊🍊🍊☀️☀️☀️ pic.twitter.com/UBMdyu97Gy
— Butch Jones (@UTCoachJones) July 21, 2016
Check out Cotman’s highlights, which feature his incredible speed, from his junior season to get an idea of the player Tennessee could be getting in 2017.:
With a total of 21 prospects now committed, Tennessee’s class has passed Miami and is currently ranked as a Top 10 recruiting class for the 2017 season — according to 247Sports team rankings.
Yes we know its a three star got it.
How many 3-stars will it take to build Tennessee up brick by brick?
We built enough to spank Georgia.. Should be another easy win this year.
Wow. 21 recruits and 18 3*s. I’m sure we’ll hear that rankings don’t matter but the Vol fans can’t be too pleased about this. Can they?
13′: Vereen, Sutton, Wiesmen, Foreman, Josh Smith, Vickers
14′: Ethan Wolf, Gaulden, J. Robertson, Mixon, C. Thomas, Elliott Berry, E. Moseley, Medley
15′: Boulware, John Kelly, Austin Smith, Chance Hall, S. Griffin
16′: J. George, DJ Henderson, B. Johnson, L. Williams, C. Henderson
(All 3 stars according to 247sports)
ok? does anyone recognize any of those names besides maybe Sutton?
Sutton: Badnarik, Thorpe, & Nagurski watch list
Thomas: Remington watch list
Wiesmen: Outland watch list
Wolf: Mackey watch list
(Other people recognize these names)
Literally almost half of the starters in college football get named to each of these watch lists. Not a clue what you’re trying to prove with that. Seems like you more proved the point that your underwhelming recruiting produces underwhelming players
Our point right there there`s a couple of decent players on the list but nothing great…..the point is guys the rating system or people that do the rankings are getting better at it lol……yea i know some fall through the cracks but still a 3* players ceiling 8-10 is far less than a 4 or 5 *……if you build a total class out of 3* in the SEC you will soon be Kentucky, Mizzo, Vandy…..js Vols fans
Personally, yes, I’m a bit concerned. More by the volume to this point rather than the * totals. We have 21 commits and the season hasn’t even started yet. If our season pans out anywhere close to the expectations, more higher profile recruits will want to commit as well. We’re still in the running for a few 5*s and many 4*s. What happens when we start pushing 30 commits and Butch has to start sending some of these 3* commits away? It’s not a good look and usually ends up in bad PR. I have to think that we’re “over-recruiting” a bit by handing out scholarship offers to anyone and everyone who shows some flash of potential.
This is how Butch has recruited, look at his “highly rated classes” all over 30, that can’t happen each year. Its easy to pitch early playing time, its now put up or shut up time for Butch and Co.
Look at the kid’s offer list. Pretty much every preseason top 25 school is offering him. Plus, we can always retract offers from 3*s, which is what every school does. If you get commitments from better players, you let some others go. The best schools do it. The season hasn’t even started… This is right where we should be right now. If we have a good season, we will get a lot more recruits.
auburn, alabama, arkansas, clemson, florida, florida state, louisville, miami, michigan, michigan st, missisippi, notre dame, oregon, ohio state, oregon, tcu, va tech, wisconsin
that is just the best of his offers, there’s more. when this kid gets bumped up to 4 * there’s gonna be a lot of crow to eat. yall still think stars really matter? its like people act like the rankings are locked in stone…. these freaking morons who think they college football
He commits, yet he remains open to all of his favorite schools. His highlight film is titled “God’s Gift”. In every TD run I watched, he pulled up at the 5 yarn line and cruised into the end zone. I will get excited about this kid when he honors his commitment, and when he grows up.
The Three Star General strikes again!
you’re just butt hurt georgia is one of the few sec schools who hasn’t offered him. one of 5 sec schools who DIDN’T offer him (missouri and vandy are in that group too lol)
Why would we offer this kid? We are about to sign a top three class nationally with arguably five of the best wide receivers in the country. This kid isn’t on the radar for a reason. Come back in February and we will compare recruiting classes…
What is BJ doing lmao
Yeah, hes a 3* rb, but the kids going to play corner. Hes 5’10” and runs 4.3 range, which is great size and speed for a corner. The coached see his potential at the position, and one would have to know nothing about football to not see it. Yeah, the rest of the class being only 3*s is pretty concerning to me and any vol fan who doesn’t agree probably should lighten the shade on them orange shades, but this kid doesn’t really worry me.
rational post, thank you!