Offensive line is a position of need for the Vols in the 2019 recruiting class. They were able to add several players at the position in the 2018 class, and a player like junior college offensive tackle Jahmir Johnson could even compete to start in his first year with the Vols. They still, however, lack competitive depth at the position, and they will be looking to add more instant impact players in the 2019 class. Offensive line will be a focal point of the 2019 recruiting cycle, especially with Trey Smith’s immediate future currently up in the air.
Jeremy Pruitt and his staff will need to look to the JUCO ranks once again in order to find players that can come in and help right away. It appears as if they are doing just that, as they offered the best JUCO tackle in the nation on Tuesday.
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu tweeted that he is “truly blessed” to receive on offer from Tennessee this week.
I am truly blessed to receive another D1 offer to the University of Tennesse, Volunteers. @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/HzvCfpqY8h
— Malaesala (@SalaDaBeast) March 6, 2018
Tennessee joins the likes of Florida, USC, Arkansas, and 13 other Power Five schools in offering the huge 6-foot-7 lineman. USC is currently seen as the favorite, though his recruitment is very much still open.
Aumavae-Laulu is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 JUCO tackle in the country, and he is the 4th-best JUCO player in the country per their rankings. While he does not yet have a composite ranking, he is a four-star based on the 247Sports rating scale. He is from Henderson, Nevada and plays for Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
A look at his film shows a player that can start right away. He is a very balanced player, as he can run block and pass block efficiently. He also has the capability to play both guard and tackle. He is surprisingly athletic for a guy his size, and being 350 pounds doesn’t appear to slow him down too much. He can be a step slow against the edge rush, and his pad level is pretty high, though it is hard to get that low when you are as tall as he is. I have some concerns about his hip flexibility, as he appears to be a little stiff at times. He is, however, very strong, and he has excellent hands. He keeps a very good base about him when he blocks, and does a great job blocking in space. Overall he is a very good lineman with a great football IQ.
I don’t think that Tennessee’s chances of landing him are high, as it will be hard to get him to leave the west coast. Pruitt, however, is an excellent recruiter and I would love to see him pursue Aumavae-Laulu hard.
