The Vols received a commitment from 2016 linebacker Emanuel Bridges (6-3, 210) on Sunday morning, a 3-star prospect from Newnan, Ga., who has offers from Clemson, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss and others, including Alabama (according to Scout.com).
Bridges, who visited Knoxville last weekend, announced his pledge on Twitter.
Linebacker will be a huge position of need moving forward in the next couple of recruiting classes as the Vols look to move on from the A.J. Johnson era and find several options both inside and outside. Bridges, who plays primarily outside linebacker in his high school’s scheme, will bring some versatility, athleticism and a nice frame to mix for the Vols.
“Bridges is an athletic linebacker with the ability to rush the passer or drop back into coverage from an off alignment,” ESPN wrote in a scouting report. “Shows a burst to close and will line up ball carrier and deliver a hit when given the angle. Moves well laterally and works through traffic. Flashes toughness at point of attack when taking on blocks.”
The Vols only have one true linebacker commitment currently in the 2015 class in Austin Smith as long-time commitment Cecil Cherry has all-but-decommitted from the Vols in favor of Texas.
Bridges becomes the first linebacker commitment in the class of 2016, which now is up to seven commitments.
Here’s the link to his full RTI recruiting profile: Emanuel Bridges.
Rankings:
247Sports: 3-star, No. 460 nationally
Rivals: 3-star, No. 13 ILB
Scout: 3-star, No. 287 nationally
ESPN: 3-star
Film:
