Linebacker
As of right now, the only sure starter for the 2017 season at linebacker is Darrin Kirkland Jr. It’s safe to say he has locked that Mike linebacker position up for the next few years. Outside of that, the competition is fairly open. And Tennessee will be looking to make sure that competition is full of talent as they will attempt to bring in a few more top-notch kids to Knoxville. Here are a couple of the top recruiting targets at linebacker.
4* Justin Foster: Shelby, NC | 6’3″ 245 lbs
Justin Foster brings just about everything you want in a linebacker: size, lateral speed, and a natural tendency to swarm to the ball. He’s a pretty big body and with a little more weight could probably even transform into a defensive end or a Curt Maggitt-esque hybrid. As of right now Clemson and Tennessee seem to be the clear-cut favorites and it wouldn’t be surprising if Foster went ahead and pulled the trigger some time soon. And when he does, don’t be surprised if he chooses the Volunteers.
4* Willie Gay: Starkville, MS | 6’2″ 215 lbs
This one is a little more outlandish. Tennessee has offered Gay, and they have his attention. But he lives in Starkville – home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. For Tennessee to steal him away from either Mississippi State or Ole Miss would be both huge and helpful. Not to mention easier said than done. He will have to add some weight at the next level, but no matter how you spin in, Gay is a top linebacker target from every elite SEC school for a reason.
