Ten members of Tennessee’s 2015 recruiting class will be arriving to Knoxville and enrolling in classes this week. Nine of the ten players listed below arrived to Knoxville on January 4th, with Nashville’s Kyle Phillips being the only exception. Phillips, however, is set to join his teammates later in the week. Here’s a look at the Vols who will be getting a head start on the 2015 season by joining Team 119 in time for the spring semester.
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Andrew Butcher
Defensive End
6-2, 245 pounds
Alpharetta, GA (Alpharetta HS)
Top Offers
Alabama, Missouri, Miami, Stanford, Notre Dame
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★
247Sports: ★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 3.5-stars
Butcher possesses a solid frame with above average bulk, though he has room to add a bit more in college. He gets upfield quickly and is a disruptive force behind the line of scrimmage. A high-effort prospect, Butcher is the type of player Butch Jones loves. He’s talented yet also works hard to maximize that talent. He’s disciplined against the run and demonstrates a quick first step when rushing the passer. Butcher also has the ability to use his strength to beat linemen to the inside. Tennessee needs more playmakers along the defensive front and Butcher will get a chance to prove he can fill that role early in his career.
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Quinten Dormady
Pro-Style Quarterback
6-4, 200 pounds
Boerne, TX (Boerne HS)
Top Offers
Alabama, Oklahoma State, Houston, TCU, Vanderbilt
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 3.75-stars
Dormady has all the measurables of an elite quarterback prospect. His tall frame has room to add bulk and he’s lighter on his feet than you’d think. He won’t beat you with his legs, but moves well within the pocket. His senior tape shows that he has the arm to push the ball downfield and fit it into tight windows. He sees the field very well and makes quick decisions. His release, though consistent, could get faster. Dormady is a very good QB prospect whose game should translate at the next level, as he’s only going to get stronger and more fundamentally sound once he arrives in Knoxville.
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Stephen Griffin
Safety
6-2, 185 pounds
Charlotte, NC (South Mecklenburg)
Top Offers
Clemson, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Duke
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★
Scout.com: ★★★
247Sports: ★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★
RTI Average: 3-stars
A two-way athlete who plays safety and quarterback in high school, Griffin projects as a safety or possibly outside linebacker at Tennessee. He has a lanky frame which could add some bulk. His long stride covers a ton of ground and he reacts well in space. His backpedal is fluid and he takes proper angles to the football. He’s a physical tackler with good form who isn’t afraid to punish a ball carrier. Griffin reads and reacts to the eyes of quarterbacks very well and has the acceleration to quickly break on the football. He’s an underrated prospect who’ll have the chance to make an impact early in his career at Tennessee.
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Chance Hall
Offensive Tackle
6-5, 315 pounds
Roanoke, Virgina (Northside)
Top Offers
Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★
Scout.com: ★★★
247Sports: ★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 3.25-stars
Hall wasn’t garnering much attention as a defensive lineman, but last year’s switch to offense has turned some heads. The key word regarding Hall on the offensive line is ‘potential.’ He is not a guy who is likely to come in as a freshman and start right away – especially after suffering a torn achilles tendon early in his senior season – but after a year or two getting bigger, faster, and stronger and learning the nuances of the position he is a player who could prove to be a versatile and solid starter at either offensive guard or tackle. Butch Jones has vowed to strengthen the depth at offensive line and the addition of Hall, who may need a year or two to develop, helps space out players of the same class and leaves you with a guy you can plug in down the road as he develops.
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Jauan Jennings
Dual-Threat QB, Athlete
6-4, 200 pounds
Murfreesboro, TN (Blackman)
Top Offers
Alabama, Auburn, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Ohio State
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4-stars
Jauan Jennings is a versatile athlete who could play a number of positions at Tennessee. He wants to play quarterback and will certainly get his first look there—he impressed the coaching staff (and Jon Gruden) at a quarterback camp in early June. Arm strength isn’t a problem for Jennings, but he needs to improve his mechanics and footwork to become a more consistent passer. To his credit, he has progressed in those areas over the last year. He’s a threat with his legs due to a mixture of quick acceleration and elusiveness with the ball in his hands but could end up at safety (the position he played as a sophomore) or perhaps even outside linebacker down the road. No matter where he plays, the Vols are getting a phenomenal athlete.
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Jack Jones
Offensive Tackle
6-5, 300 pounds
Murfreesboro, TN (Oakland HS)
Top Offers
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4-stars
Jones is ahead of the curve with his footwork and initial quickness and should play offensive tackle in college. He has the frame to add additional bulk and already demonstrates excellent upper and lower body strength. Mentally, he plays with a nasty edge and simply isn’t outworked on the field. He excels in run blocking and quickly attacks opposing linemen. Jones has the ability to be a great pass blocker, but needs to continue to refine his mechanics. Overall, he’s an excellent athlete with an SEC frame. The Vols are thin along the offensive line and Jones should compete to be in the two-deep in 2015.
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Alvin Kamara
Running Back
5-11, 195 pounds
Norcross, GA (Norcross)
Top Offers
Georgia
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4.50-stars
One of three current running backs committed to Tennessee in the 2015 class, Kamara has all the skills to be a feature back in the SEC. He achieves top speed almost instantly and quickly reaches the second level of the defense. Once there, he has the power to run over defenders and the lateral quickness to elude them. He can beat you between the tackles or running to the sidelines and has excellent vision. To top it off, he’s an excellent receiver out of the backfield with soft hands and a knack for getting open. Kamara should compete for playing time the moment he steps on campus.
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Darrin Kirkland Jr.
Linebacker
6-1, 225 pounds
Indianapolis, Indiana (Lawrence Central)
Top Offers
Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Southern Cal, Texas
Status
Tennessee committ
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4-stars
Kirkland is an extremely disciplined and talented football player who would be a great fit in John Jancek’s system as a middle linebacker. He is very patient in his assessment of each play and reacts very quickly once he recognizes what his responsibility is. He has excellent reaction time and has very little wasted motion in his form when he goes to make a play. He is solid in pass coverage over the middle, picking up running backs and tight ends with relative ease in his film, but will need to expand his coverage abilities at the next level. He has good speed for his size, but his real strength is his ability to shed blockers, get to the ball carrier and get them to the ground with solid tackling form and technique. With Tennessee looking to replace a lot of production at middle linebacker, Kirkland is a player that would have the opportunity to see the field as a freshman.
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Kyle Phillips
Defensive End
6-4, 250 pounds
Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro)
Top Offers
Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, FSU
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4.25-stars
Phillips is a slightly oversized defensive end who has the frame of a guy who could eventually move inside, but has enough athleticism to come off the edge in college if that’s where he stays. He’s far from the most polished prospect, but his large frame and athleticism – he’s been clocked in the 4.6-4.7 40 range – make him everything coaches are looking for in an SEC defensive lineman. Butch Jones has owned the Nashville area since taking over and Phillips is the latest example. He’s exactly the type of prospect the Vols need to consistently land if they are to return to relevance in the SEC.
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Shy Tuttle
Defensive Tackle
6-3, 315 pounds
Lexington, N.C. (North Davidson)
Top Offers
Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina, Texas, FSU, Georgia
Status
Tennessee commit
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
RTI Average: 4-stars
There are only a few D-tackles each year with the size and athleticism combination to be considered an elite prospect.
Tuttle fits that mold. Well over 300 pounds, he has enough size and strength to hold up at the point of attack. He also has enough of an explosive first step to be disruptive and cause problems in the backfield – a huge quality the Vols look for in their defensive linemen. The possibility of landing him and pairing him with Kahlil McKenzie seemed like a dream scenario earlier in this recruiting cycle, but that has become a reality for the Vols, in addition to several other quality defensive linemen in this class.
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