Athletes
The “Athlete” position is always a fun one to discuss and debate. And apparently Butch Jones feels the same way since he’s taken a few of them recently. He admits, adding sheer athleticism and speed has been a priority of his and oftentimes, prospects with the “athlete” label are both athletic and fast. Many times, athletes are the best overall football player on the field and with these targets in mind, they won’t be any exception.
5* JaCoby Stevens: Murfreesboro, TN | 6’2″ 200 lbs
With the ability to play both receiver or cornerback, JaCoby Stevens is the number one rated athlete in the country. And the fact that his former high school teammate, Jack Jones, is on Tennessee’s roster doesn’t hurt his recruitment. The one in-state guy that Tennessee will target the hardest will most definitely be Stevens, and for good reason. If Butch can land him and a handful of other respectable Tennesseans, he will live up to his promise of “owning the state.”
4* Maleik Gray: Lavergne, TN | 6’2″ 195 lbs
If JaCoby Stevens is in-state priority number one, Maleik Gray is priority number two. He is listed as an athlete because he can play running back, receiver, linebacker, or safety. More appropriately, he an offensive and defensive weapon, able to move around as needed. It’s hard to say his most likely position at the collegiate level, but just based on his athleticism, it might be wise to recruit him at whatever position he likes most and then see how things go when he gets on campus. Florida State does seem to be luring him away from his home state, but Tennessee is still very much in the thick of things.
