Defensive Back
The secondary is shaping up to be pretty strong after the 2016 season. The only expected departures will be Cam Sutton and Malik Foreman with the rest of the secondary in tact. Still, that means two of Tennessee’s best cornerbacks will need to be replaced and Butch Jones will look to the 2017 class to start working on filling those voids. Expect these targets to be highly sought after by the Volunteers.
5* Deangelo Gibbs: Loganville, GA | 6’2″ 204 lbs
If Tennessee wants a legitimate shot at one of the best players in the country, cornerback Deangelo Gibbs is it. He is already high on the Vols and has visited UT campus multiple times. His hometown of Loganville, GA is only about 3.5 hours away from Knoxville and he is already friends with some of the players on Tennessee’s roster, including incoming freshman Nigel Warrior, who is Gibbs’ cousin. Georgia is the only other serious contender (as of right now) and for the most part, Tennessee has a good track record of poaching top talent from the state of Georgia.
3* Theo Jackson: Nashville, TN | 6’2″ 180 lbs
Theo Jackson is a free safety who hails from the mid-state, but could be a transplant to the Rocky Top region very soon. He is another Tennessee native that is very likely to stay in his home state. Watching his film, he has impressive speed and could even be another Evan Berry-type player with his play-making abilities. He just needs to add about 15-20 pounds first.
4* AJ Terrell: Atlanta, GA | 6’2″ 175 lbs
Like Gibbs, Terrell is from Georgia and is not very far from Knoxville. He has the height and speed you look for in a corner, but he does need to add a little bit of muscle weight. Terrell holds 20 scholarship offers from all over the country but Tennessee, along with Georgia and Auburn, seem to be his favorites thus far. No matter how the recruitment goes with Gibbs, Terrell is another cornerback that could have an early impact and Tennessee will likely do whatever they can to persuade him to become a Vol.
