Every time Tennessee gets a commitment in either football or men’s basketball, we will write up an impact report looking at what that recruit does well, what we feel can be improved, and what his projected impact with the Vols could be over the next few years.
Latest Commit: Kaidon Salter, QB
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
School: Cedar Hill (Texas)
Home Town: Cedar Hill, TX
Rankings
247Sports Composite: No. 280 overall, No. 10 DUAL
247Sports: No. 88 overall, No. 4 DUAL
Rivals: 5.6 rating, No. 20 DUAL
Notable Offers: Auburn, Baylor, Michigan State, Houston, UCLA
What we like:
A lot of times when you see a quarterback with the “dual-threat” description, that means he likes to run more than throw and probably needs to work on his arm. That’s not the case with Kaidon Salter. He’s a pass-first type of dual-threat QB, and he’s just as dangerous throwing the ball as he is running with it. Salter has a great arm and can sling it downfield. He’s pretty accurate on his deep passes and is also very good at throwing on the run. He excels at improvising if the pocket collapses or if a play breaks down, and he can buy time to find an open target or take off and run and pick up big chunks of yards. He has really good pocket awareness and is just a superb athlete.
As a runner, Salter is hard to bring down and has a very strong burst of speed. His acceleration is so quick, and he changes direction on a dime. You can tell he’s also a track athlete with how explosive he is with his legs. He’s a true do-it-all quarterback, in my opinion.
Places to improve:
Salter is going to have to add some weight to his body in order to stay alive in the SEC. He’s a little lean now, but he has the ability to add a dozen or so pounds and still retain the speed and athleticism he has. That weight and strength will also help him improve the zip on his intermediate passes. I’d also like to see Tennessee’s coaches help Salter improve his throwing motion. He has a tendency to have a drawn-out release at times, and making that quicker and crisper will be a huge asset to his game.
Analysis:
From my amateur estimation, Salter is an absolute gem in the 2021 class who has the ability to really rise up recruiting rankings with a strong senior season. He showed off a ton of skill as a junior, and that helped put him on the map. He’s a good decision-maker, has a great arm, and is dangerous on the ground. But Salter is definitely a pass-first QB, and that’s the kind of dual-threat you want leading your offense.
Tennessee’s quarterback room for 2021 is a complete mystery right now. There’s no telling how many QBs will actually be on the roster, and who knows who the projected starter will be? But assuming Salter sticks around in the class, he’ll definitely compete for the starting job as a freshman.
