Defense
DT
Payton Page — No. 25 overall, No. 3 DT
Leonard Taylor — No. 28 overall, No. 4 DT
Isaac Washington — No. 711, No. 39 DT
SDE
Jahvaree Ritzie — No. 211 overall, No. 14 SDE
Javon Nelson — No. 318 overall, No. 21 SDE
Victoine Brown — No. 425 overall, No. 30 SDE
WDE
Dylan Brooks — No. 15 overall, No. 1 WDE
Demeioun Robinson — No. 46 overall, No. 2 WDE
Noah Collins (UCF commit) — No. 643 overall, No. 37 WDE
OLB
Terrence Lewis — No. 14 overall, No. 1 OLB
Smael Mondon — No. 39 overall, No. 3 OLB
Junior Colson — No. 183 overall, No. 16 OLB
ILB
Kendrick Blackshire — No. 131 overall, No. 5 ILB
DB
Isaiah Johnson — No. 63 overall, No. 5 CB
Andre Turrentine — No. 134 overall, No. 12 CB
Nyland Green — No. 135 overall, No. 13 CB
Omarion Cooper — No. 244 overall, No. 17 CB
Devonta Smith — No. 445 overall, No. 29 CB
ATH
Nathaniel Wiggins — No. 209 overall, No. 11 ATH
Jantzen Dunn — No. 320 overall, No. 25 ATH
Kyndrich Breedlove — No. 424 overall, No. 33 ATH
Tennessee’s most high-priority targets in the 2021 class are on the defensive side of the ball, and the Vols are swinging for the fences in this cycle when it comes to defensive talent.
Five-stars Payton Page, Dylan Brooks, and Terrence Lewis headline the Vols’ targets on defense, and UT is in a good spot with all three of those prospects right now. It’s doubtful Tennessee can land all three, but they will try their best to do so.
Pass rusher is easily the Vols’ biggest area of focus in the 2021 cycle, and picking up some defensive linemen and defensive backs are also priorities. On the pass rusher front, the aforementioned Dylan Brooks is a huge target, as is elite four-star Demeioun Robinson. Terrence Lewis projects as a pass rusher in UT’s 3-4 defense, as would Smael Mondon and in-state four-star linebacker Junior Colson.
One of the biggest knocks against Jeremy Pruitt and his staff so far at Tennessee has been their inability to land a truly elite pass rusher. The Vols have added some intriguing options in players like Roman Harrison, Tyler Baron, and Morven Joseph, but two of those players aren’t on campus yet, and Harrison played minimally in his freshman season. This cycle has to be the one where UT finally brings in a premier edge rusher, and Tennessee is targeting plenty of those types of players there.
Along the defensive line, Tennessee would do well to add a few prospects there as well since they’ll be losing a few veteran linemen after the 2020 class. Payton Page is the biggest name in that group, but also watch for Leonard Taylor, Jahvaree Ritzie, and Victoine Brown. Isaac Washington, a three-star defensive tackle from North Carolina, was once committed to the Vols and is still interested in UT. The reason he decommitted was because of Tennessee’s coaching change at his position. If he builds up a good relationship with new defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, UT could still come away with his commitment in the end.
With Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson entering their junior seasons, Tennessee needs to add a few corners in their 2021 class. It’s not for certain that either or both of Taylor and Thompson will declare for the NFL after this upcoming season, but UT has to prepare like they will. In-state DB Andre Turrentine is definitely a name to remember, and Isaiah Johnson would be a home run get. Nyland Green and Nathaniel Wiggins are two other prospects to watch.
Safety and inside linebacker aren’t as big of priorities for UT this cycle thanks to their solid recruiting at both positions the last two cycles, but they’ll still be looking at a few prospects at both of those spots if they have room.
It’s also worth noting that Tennessee must take a kicker in this class because senior Brent Cimaglia is graduating after the 2020 season. So just like in the 2020 class, a scholarship spot in the 2021 cycle will be taken up by a specialist recruit.
