The Vols offered a potentially elite receiver prospect in the 2016 class on Tuesday evening.
Javon McKinley (6-2, 200 pounds) of Corona, California, tweeted that Tennessee was his 13th offer, as the Vols continue to look forward into the 2016 and 2017 classes with a large majority of the work for the 2015 class already done as Signing Day approaches in exactly one week.
Got my 13th offer from Tennessee! pic.twitter.com/SAYcqFQxj3
— Ja(von) McKinley (@mcjavon) January 28, 2015
McKinley, who claims a 4.1 GPA, is ranked as the No. 94 player overall nationally by Rivals.com and No. 151 overall by 247Sports. He also has offers from a majority of the Pac 12, including Southern California, California, Oregon, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State. Tennessee is his first SEC offer.
As loaded as the Vols’ group of receivers is right now, that position could be a priority in the 2016 class. Right now, UT only has a commitment from one true receiver, Preston Williams, in the 2015 class, though Vincent Perry is expected to start out as a slot receiver and there are others in the class who could get a look at WR as well.
Tennessee will definitely lose Von Pearson, Pig Howard and Johnathon Johnson after the 2015 season. Marquez North could consider an early entry into the NFL Draft after 2015 and there has been plenty of smoke that rising sophomore Vic Wharton, who started two games in 2014, may be re-evaluating his future at UT, though nothing has been confirmed on that front.
All that to say, expect the Vols to look for several receivers in the 2016 class to start reloading a group that could be hit hard by attrition over the next year or so. Here’s McKinley’s junior highlight film.
Looking down the road, the Vols also offered 2017 defensive back Tre’ Shaw of Ellenwood, Ga., according to his Twitter account.
They also extended an offer to 2016 offensive tackle Devin Cochran, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound former teammate of current Vol commit Micah Abernathy at Greater Atlanta Christian School, according to 247Sports.
