Tennessee will be looking to close out their 2020 class strong between now and National Signing Day on February 5th, but UT’s coaches are also using this time to focus a lot of attention on their 2021 targets. With the Vols expected to only add a couple more prospects to their 2020 class, Tennessee’s coaches are investing a lot of time in getting some of their top targets in next year’s cycle to come visit, and they’re evaluating rising senior prospects a ton as well.
Because of that, Tennessee’s coaches have been sending out a lot of scholarship offers this week, and the Vols have offered a trio of four-stars over the last 24 hours.
Four-star and top-150 wide receiver Jayden Thomas, four-star defensive end Zaire Patterson, and four-star outside linebacker Trenilyas Tatum have all picked up offers from the Vols over the last 24 hours.
Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 198-pound wide receiver/defensive back from Pace Academy in Atlanta, is rated as the No. 131 overall prospect and No. 28 receiver in the 2021 class per the 247Sports Composite rankings. He added offers from Maryland and Arkansas before his recent UT offer, and he also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, and others.
Thankful to be offered by the University of Tennessee #Vols @DansleyAnsley @coachtee17 @TEwracademy #TeWrAcademy @Vol_Football @UTVolRecruiting @GoVols247 @_VR2_ ⚪️?@RyanCallahan247 pic.twitter.com/MJ5CQiOJue
— ﾌㄒ (@jgpt333) January 16, 2020
The dynamic athlete not only excels on the football field, but he also plays basketball and baseball for Pace Academy.
Patterson is a huge pass rushing prospect who measures in at 6-foot-6 and around 215-20 pounds. He’s rated as the No. 285 overall player and No. 17 weak-side defensive end per the 247Sports Composite rankings, and the regular 247Sports rankings list him as the No. 166 overall recruit and No. 11 weak-side defensive end.
Blessed and honored to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee ???@Vol_Football #ATTG?? pic.twitter.com/x6U388284A
— Zaire Patterson (@zay_gotnext) January 16, 2020
The four-star pass rusher plays for Winston-Salem Prep in Winston Salem, North Carolina and is also a multi-sport athlete. As a junior, he racked up 129 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 27 quarterback hurries, nine forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three interceptions, and 10 passes defended per MaxPreps. Patterson picked up an offer from Kentucky on the same day the Vols offered him, and he also has offers from Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and others.
As for Trenilyas Tatum, the four-star outside linebacker plays for Mt. Zion in Jonesboro, Georgia. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound pass rusher holds offers from Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Maryland, Georgia Tech, and other programs.
Extremely blessed to receive an Offer from The University of Tennessee?? @ChadSimmons_ @Rocker2Tracy pic.twitter.com/CaU0EsjRg1
— Trenilyas Tatum (@_TrenilyasT) January 17, 2020
Tatum is rated as the No. 222 overall prospect and No. 15 outside linebacker in the 2021 class per the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Tennessee already holds commitments from four prospects in the 2021 cycle. Four-star receiver Jordan Mosley headlines the class, and he’s joined by three-star cornerback Jay Jones, three-star athlete Nate Evans, and three-star athlete Elijah Howard.
The Vols are set to host a number of 2021 prospects this weekend, and the month of January will see UT host a lot of 2021 recruits before the dead period begins in February. Tennessee has already sent out offers to over 300 prospects in the 2021 cycle.
