Tennessee still has their eyes on a few recruiting targets in the 2020 class, but UT’s coaches are focusing heavily on the next recruiting cycle before the February dead period. The Vols have hosted dozens of 2021 prospects on visits this month, and more are set to come to campus this upcoming weekend. Tennessee’s coaches have also been sending out offers now that junior year film has been put out, and a four-star offensive tackle from up north picked up an offer from UT on Wednesday.
Geno VanDemark is a 6-foot-4, 314-pound offensive tackle who plays for St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, New Jersey. On Wednesday, he tweeted out that Tennessee extended an offer to him, specifically tagging Joe Osovet, UT’s Director of Programming for Football, in the tweet.
Excited and honored to receive an offer from The University of Tennessee!! Thanks @CoachOsovet #SEC pic.twitter.com/YIsMkdyJSN
— Geno VanDeMark (@GenoVanDeMark) January 29, 2020
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, VanDemark is the No. 225 overall prospect and No. 8 offensive guard in the 2021 class. He projects more as an offensive tackle, however, and that’s primarily where he plays for St. Joseph Regional.
Since VanDemark’s junior season ended, he’s added offers from Syracuse, Miami, and Georgia Tech to go along with his offer from the Vols. Louisville, West Virginia, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Virginia have all offered him as well.
VanDemark participated in a regional camp for Nike’s The Opening back in April of 2019, and there he recorded a shuttle time of 5.15 seconds and a 20-inch vertical.
Watching VanDemark’s film, I’m very impressed by his hand placement, aggressiveness, and footwork. He plays with a nasty streak. VanDemark isn’t a dirty player; he just plays mean, which is what you like to see in an offensive lineman. He has very good strength, and he’s great at absorbing contact as a pass blocker and redirecting pass rushers where he wants to go. As a run blocker, his aggressiveness really comes out, and he’ll keep blocking until that whistle has stopped blowing.
Tennessee doesn’t have a commitment from an offensive lineman in their 2021 class yet, but offensive tackle figures to be a big position of emphasis in the upcoming cycle.
The Vols currently have five players committed to them in their 2021 class. Four-star wide receiver Jordan Mosely, three-star cornerback Jay Jones, three-star defensive tackle Isaac Washington, three-star athlete Nate Evans, and three-star running back/athlete Elijah Howard are all pledged to UT.
