Signee: Reginald Perry, DT
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 300 pounds
School: Fairfield Prep (Alabama)
Home Town: Fairfield, AL
Rankings
247Sports Composite: No. 728 overall, No. 60 DT
247Sports: No. 681 overall, No. 55 DT
Rivals: 5.6 rating No. 33 SDE
Notable Offers: Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi State
What we like:
Reginald Perry is a very versatile lineman who will probably be one of the more athletic big men on Tennessee’s roster the moment he steps foot on campus. Perry has very long arms and has a huge frame at 6-foot-6, and he moves well for his size. He’s capable of playing at defensive end as a bigger edge defender like Pruitt likes using, and he can also play inside more as a tackle. He played both those roles on defense in high school along with playing offensive line, tight end, and a little wide receiver for Fairfield Prep. That’s a rare type of athleticism, and with his size blended along with that, it’s no wonder he stood out to UT’s coaches.
Places to improve:
While Perry does have a lot of raw ability, he has some areas to work on once he gets to campus. His technique needs honing, and I think his conditioning probably does, too. That’s hard to say, though, because he was having to play on both sides of the ball for four quarters a lot of times, and that’s very tiring. Getting to play just one position in college will do wonders for him, and he’ll be learning a lot when he first gets on campus.
Analysis:
I don’t anticipate Perry having a huge role on defense in his first year, and that’s probably for the best. He needs time to learn and develop the skills he has. He’s more than just a big body; Perry is very athletic, and he has a lot of versatility. He’s just raw in some areas, and I think he could benefit from a redshirt. Luckily, the Vols return everyone on their defensive line from this season for next year, and players like Omari Thomas and Dominic Bailey in this class can be counted on for immediate contributions if any defensive linemen are needed for that in this class. I think getting to focus on just one side of the ball will make a big difference for Perry, and it will get the most out of his ability.
