The Vols are all over the recruiting trail right now, as they continue to shift their focus to the 2020 class while focusing on the stretch run in the 2019 class. Tennessee offered several prospects this past week, and one of those offers went out to one of the best players in the state of Texas.
Vernon Broughton II, a four-star defensive end from Houston, Texas, announced via twitter that he is “blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee.”
Blessed to receive a offer from the University of Tennessee..??❕❕#VolNation #Blessed pic.twitter.com/7qrbFjpkQ6
— Vernon Broughton ll (@Broughto1Vernon) January 8, 2019
Tennessee joined a lengthy list of schools seeking to bring in the talented defender. Broughton holds offers from nearly 20 schools, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Ole Miss. The in-state Longhorns are seen as the early favorite to land him.
Per the 247Sports Composite rankings, he’s rated as a four-star prospect and the 211th overall player in the nation. Additionally, he is the 4th-ranked strong-side defensive end in the 2020 class and 26th-ranked player in Texas.
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The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman plays both tight end and defensive end for Cy Ridge High School. He also plays basketball.
Broughton is a big man, but he moves like a skill player. He used to be much slimmer, but he has since put on muscle. That weight gain didn’t hinder his athleticism, though. According to his Twitter bio, he runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash.
Looking at his film, he uses his hands very well to control offensive lineman and get off blocks. Broughton has a quick first step and accelerates well when rushing the passer. He does a good job staying low and getting leverage. He is a sure tackler, and he can defend against the run well.
Tennessee likely has a lot of work to do to become a serious player in his recruitment, but it is worth the effort. Broughton is a very talented prospect and would be a great addition to any signing class, but especially for a team like Tennessee that needs more pass rushers and talented defensive linemen on their roster.
