Tennessee isn’t messing around when it comes to landing five-star junior college defensive end Jonathan Kongbo III, who plays at Arizona Western.
The Vols sent four coaches – defensive line coach Steve Stripling, head coach Butch Jones, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop (who apparently never smiles) and recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Robert Gillespie.
https://twitter.com/King_Kongbo/status/692829150701187072
Kongbo is down to USC, Florida State, Tennessee and Ole Miss and is expected to announce on signing day next Wednesday. Kongbo did commit to the Vols in the fall, but backed off that pledge, saying he would still consider Tennessee though. So far, he’s been true to his word and has kept Tennessee very much in the running. The Vols are hoping to land him to pair with junior college signee and early enrollee defensive tackle Alexis Johnson, who is already on campus.
Here’s a full RTI recruiting profile for Kongbo:
JUCO Defensive End – 2016 Class
6-6, 264 pounds
Arizona Western Community College
Other top offers
Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Oregon, Arizona State, Mississippi State
Status
Kongbo, who received a visit from four UT coaches on Jan. 28 in Arizona, is down to USC, Florida State, Tennessee and Ole Miss and is expected to announce on signing day next Wednesday. Kongbo did commit to the Vols in the fall, but backed off that pledge, saying he would still consider Tennessee though. So far, he’s been true to his word and has kept Tennessee very much in the running. The Vols are hoping to land him to pair with junior college signee and early enrollee defensive tackle Alexis Johnson, who is already on campus.
Ratings
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★★
RTI average: 4.25-star
How He Fits
Although raw, Kongbo III has immense upside. He’s a physical freak at 6-6, 264 pounds and has great burst from the line of scrimmage. Kongbo has reportedly been clocked in at sub-4.7 second 40-yard dash time, which means there’s plenty to like about his athleticism. Kongbo is able to shed linemen with ease on any given play, but he still has a lot to learn from a technique standpoint.
During his freshman campaign at at Arizona Western in 2015, Kongbo III recorded 49 tackles, 12 TFLs and 9.5 sacks. Kongbo III, who is originally from Canada and only played one partial season of high school football before heading to junior college, is the No. 1 overall junior college player in the nation, per 247Sports. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
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