The Tennessee Football team gained a trio of new walk-on players on Monday after a group of announcements.
Up first on Monday was an announcement from the class of 2022’s Derek Taylor. While playing at Greenbriar High School in Greenbriar, TN, Taylor rountinely found time playing at the wide receiver and safety positions. According to 247 Sports Composite, Taylor is a three-star athlete in the class and is currently ranked as the 56th overall prospect from the state of Tennessee.
Taylor announced his decision with a post on social media.
COMMITTED #GBO🍊 #4J🦋 #E3🔺 @GreenbrierFB @_Elite3 @RileyElite3 @scott_altizer @CoachEkelerUT @CoachTimBanks @coachjoshheupel pic.twitter.com/cYryv29lue
— Derek Taylor (@DerekTaylor0) January 31, 2022
A few hours after Taylor’s announcement, another in-state prospect made his decision to play for the Vols.
On Monday, 2022 prospect Joshua Helsdon announced that he would be continuing his football career at the University of Tennessee. However, for Helsdon, it is a football career that has not been going on very long. Originally, Helsdon was a home-schooler and did not play sports due to the wishes of his parents. During his junior year of high school, though, Helsdon made the switch to Bradley Central High School and started playing football for the first time.
Helsdon is listed as both a defensive lineman and tight end, but according to his coaches, his talent on the line is both real and raw.
“[Helsdon is] as talented as I’ve ever seen,” said Bradley Central defensive line coach Colby Dills during an interview with Channel 12 WDEF. “If he’d have been playing since he was little, there’s no telling how good he’d be right now.”
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 260-pounds, Helsdon is the type of talent that could really improve himself in the long-run under the tutiledge of the Tennessee coaches.
So thankful for this opportunity!! 🧡@Vol_Football @coachg76 @scott_altizer @BradleyBearsFB@DFloyd02 pic.twitter.com/JQaIo80x3A
— Joshua Helsdon (@helsdon_joshua) February 1, 2022
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Then, as the clock struck midnight between Monday and Tuesday, another announcement popped up on social media. Six-foot, 175-pound Whit Johnson, from Cherokee County High School in Alabama, will be on his way to Tennessee.
Johnson was a jack-of-all-trades in high school playing wide receiver, running back, and defensive back. Just like Taylor and Helsdon, Johnson will come to Tennessee in a preferred walk-on spot in the 2022 class.
https://twitter.com/mwhitjohnson15/status/1488376636307296260?s=20&t=VfkIk4Th01yIIGIRGwstAQ
Speaking of recruiting, this will be a significant week in the college football recruiting world. The NCAA’s National Signing Day is coming up on Wednesday as the rest of the 2022 prospects officially sign with their future school and team.
