This weekend was the first time Dylan Spencer had been to the University of Tennessee’s campus, and he won’t soon forget that trip.
Spencer, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive lineman in the 2020 class from Madison, Mississippi, took an official visit to UT’s campus this weekend after extending his recruitment beyond the early signing period. Spencer has been committed to Southern Miss since late July of 2019, but he’s picked up offers from Mississippi State, Missouri, and Kansas since the beginning of January.
And on Sunday, Spencer picked up an offer from Tennessee, too.
I spoke with Spencer on Monday after his visit, and he told me that UT was the first SEC school he’s seen up close and personal, and he enjoyed his visit.
“It was nice. It was a good experience,” Spencer said. “It was my first SEC school I’ve been to, so that was a good experience.”
While on the visit, Spencer talked with most of Tennessee’s staff, and head coach Jeremy Pruitt was the one who extended the offer to him.
“We were in a meeting, and when I talked to him, he gave me an offer before I left,” Spencer explained. “It felt great to be offered by one of the top schools in the SEC.”
The big offensive tackle played for Madison Central down in Madison, MS, the same school as 2020 Vol signee Jimmy Holiday. Spencer blocked for Holiday, who played quarterback for the Jaguars.
Holiday was Spencer’s host during his official visit, and he made his own sales pitch to his former high school teammate to try and make him his collegiate teammate, too.
“He said, ‘They’re gonna get you ready to play, and they’ll have you ready for SEC ball,'” Spencer said of Holiday.
Throughout his high school career, Spencer played on both sides of the ball. But he’s being recruited exclusively as an offensive lineman, and he’s finally getting to focus just on that one position. Because of that, he’s gotten more attention from bigger programs.
“My tape finally got out there, and the (Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game) opened up some doors for me,” Spencer said.
Indeed, Spencer was an unexpected standout at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game back in December, being tabbed as one of the top prospects at the event during practices. Because he was able to focus specifically on offensive tackle, teams took notice of his upside there, and that’s why Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi State, and Kansas have all come calling.
Right now, Spencer has a couple more visits planned over the next couple weekends. He’ll be making a trip to Kansas this upcoming weekend, and he’ll travel over to Missouri the following weekend.
Wherever Spencer ends up going to college, he thinks that school is going to be getting an athletic lineman on their roster.
“I think I can run,” Spencer said of his play. “I have good speed, and I can get to the next level.”
Tennessee currently has 21 players signed in their 2020 class, and the Vols have welcomed in three transfers this offseason as well. Three of UT’s 21 signees are projected offensive linemen, but all three are projected as interior linemen. Georgia offensive line transfer Cade Mays is also expected to play inside if he’s eligible in 2020. Spencer is being targeted as a tackle.
