One of the very few questions about the 2015 signing class for Tennessee was if the Vols added enough running backs after four-star RB prospect Kendall Bussey flipped to Texas A&M in the days leading up to signing day.
It appears that Butch Jones took a step to address that need over the weekend, adding RB Joseph Young out of Winnsboro, S.C., to the 2015 class, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Just confirmed that RB Joseph Young, who had verbally committed to @Charlotte49ers, is going to Tennessee.
— David Scott (@davidscott14) February 7, 2015
The 6-foot, 190-pound Young had verbally committed to Charlotte, a team the Vols are scheduled to face in 2018, and also claimed offers from Ohio, Virginia, Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, Furman and others. Young averaged 124.3 yards rushing per game during his senior season at Fairfield Central. Various reports list his 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-4.5 second range.
It isn’t immediately clear what Young’s scholarship status will be, though he, as of early Sunday morning, hadn’t signed any papers with Tennessee. He could be a preferred walk-on or he could qualify for blueshirt status, where he comes to campus as a walk-on and then is almost immediately put on scholarship, counting him forward to the next class. Or he could be a grayshirt candidate, meaning he would delay enrollment a semester and count in the 2016 class.
Regardless, it’s clear that Tennessee wanted to add a running back to the roster. The Vols currently only have two scholarship backs on campus in sophomores Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. Tennessee also signed three-star back John Kelly last week and is expected to add local product Joc Bruce, who could play running back, this summer in a blueshirt capacity.
Jones made a couple of comments on National Signing Day that hinted at more additions at running back:
“(Running back is) a big concern. Right now we only have three scholarship running backs, we may look to add to that position but it is a concern. When you play in a physical league like us, like we do week in and week out, so that is a concern moving forward.”
“We may have some additions as the recruiting process continues to go, if they weren’t announced today I’m not able to comment on them but I do fully anticipate adding some more players to the roster. We are always recruiting.”
For what it’s worth, the last commitment to flip from Charlotte to Tennessee was two-star CB Emmanuel Moseley in 2014. That move appears to be working out better than many expected for the Vols.
Rankings:
247Sports: ★★★
Rivals: ★★
Scout: ★★
Film:
