Tennessee picked up their first signature from a previously uncommitted prospect on the first day of the early signing period. And it was a big one.
Four-star, in-state offensive tackle Jerome Carvin announced he was signing with the Vols on Wednesday morning. His teammate at Cordova High School, three-star running back Jeremy Banks, also signed with Tennessee.
Carvin is rated as the No. 25 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 367 overall player in the country in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He chose Tennessee over Mississippi State and Florida and also had offers from Alabama, Auburn, UCLA, and others.
Banks is listed as the No. 536 overall player and the No. 24 running back in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He held offers from Nebraska, USC, Texas A&M, UCLA, Arkansas, and other schools. Banks put up gaudy numbers in his senior year with Cordova, amassing 1,941 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns in his final year of high school.
Both players fill areas of need for Tennessee in this recruiting class. But Carvin especially is huge for the Vols because of their significant need on the offensive line.
At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Carvin has a phenomenal frame and has the body type and arm length needed to play tackle in the SEC. His highlight film shows off his physicality and ability to block effectively from the left tackle position.
Banks, meanwhile, is an extremely intense back who is built like a slightly smaller version of Jalen Hurd. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, and his athleticism and tenacious play stand out on his film. He’s hard to bring down, and he can truck people just as easily as he can evade them.
The two teammates are the fourth and fifth players to sign with Tennessee today. We have an updated list of every player who is signing with the Vols today during the early signing period.
