It's three weeks until the highly anticipated start of Lane Kiffin's inaugural season, but that is only half the reason for the excitement on Rocky Top. After receiving commitments from two huge WR's and being named as the favorite for another (Demarco Cobbs, Rivals 100), today marked the third consecutive week in which UT landed a 4 star commitment for 2010.
Delvin Jones (6'6-220 lbs, Miami), who is ranked in rivals.com top 250, picked the VOLS over Florida, Southern Cal, and Alabama. Jones is listed as an athlete by most recruiting services because of his (surprising) speed and athleticism and could end up playing either TE or DE in college .
Jones' commitment can be credited to UT coach Eddie Gran, who has established himself as perhaps the top recruiter in talent-rich southern Florida. UT was the first school to offer Jones, so it is no wonder he felt very comfortable choosing the VOLS in the end.
"I was getting recruited a lot and getting a lot of attention, but I was like, I wanted offers bad. For them to be the first team, that means a lot," Jones told Volquest.com. "It just felt like I'm building a relationship with Coach Gran, Coach Wilson," he said, "and I was building a relationship with them more than other coaches at the schools I was considering."
As a junior, Jones had 70 tackles and 20 sacks. He is UT's 16th commitment for 2010.
VOLS D Line keeps getting nastier
I guess you could say Jones' commitment was this weeks icing on the cake, considering the huge news that occurred the day before and the word coming out of Fall Camp. After spending a year at Hargrave Military Academy trying to sure-up academic issues, Marlon Walls finally got the go-ahead from the NCAA Clearinghouse to join the Volunteer football team on Thursday.
Walls, who was UT's top commitment in 2008, arrived on campus this morning (after driving through the night) looking nothing like the high school linebacker that use to run a 4.55 second/40 yd in high school. After gaining 50 lbs. and growing a couple inches taller, Walls has a great chance to crack the two-deep rotation at the thin defensive tackle position. While it's not likely that Walls can still run a 4.55, Walls is still believed to be one of the fastest and most athletic defensive tackles on the roster.
Congrats to Marlon for all the hard work it took to get into UT. With 3 years of eligibility still remaining, Walls has a very promising future on Rocky Top.
Walls isn't the only former linebacker who bulked up while at Prep/JUCO who will play on the D line in 2009. Former Alcoa standout Rae Sykes (6'2-255 lbs) showed up to Fall camp on a mission to crack the 2 deep rotation, even if took moving inside to defensive tackle. Sykes, who originally signed with UT in 07, sat out of football for two years at Coffeyville C.C. due to an injury that has since been resolved. But don't worry, the guy who once had 15 tackles and 4 sacks in the state championship as a sophomore is in the biggest and best shape of his life.
Sykes has practiced with both the first and second team defense all week long, and it will be impossible to keep him off the field in 09. Like Walls, Sykes brings the combination of strength, speed and athleticism that Monte and Orgeron are looking for on the interior line.
More than likely, Sykes and Walls will play behind senior Dan Williams and freshman Montori Hughes (Murfreesboro). No way either one steals Dan Williams' spot at nose guard. Williams could be one of the best DT's in the league this year and will almost certainly be drafted barring injuries. After great performances in both the Spring and Fall camps, Williams may be the VOLS biggest weapon on defense not named Eric Berry.
Similar praise has been given to Hughes in both Spring and Fall camp. At 6'4-312 lbs, Hughes has the athleticism that some have compared to former VOL and current Redskin Albert Haynesworth. Comparisons like that don't come by often, especially for a freshman who was ranked as a two star out of high school. You can credit the previous staff for discovering Hughes, who exceeded expectations in the Spring and continues to get better in the Fall. With three years of eligibility remaining, Hughes could be the VOLS anchor on the D line for the future.
Gerald Williams showed up to camp more motivated than ever after playing mop-up duty in 2008 and a three year struggle to qualify academically. Long and athletic at 6'4- 250 lbs, GW has moved ahead of expected starter Ben Martin at LDE, after starting Fall camp third on the depth chart..
With Williams and defensive MVP Chris Walker on the ends, UT will put a lot more pressure on QB's in 09, which means more sacks and more turnovers. Also, look for red shirt freshman Wilie Bohannon to see the field in 09. Bohannon arrived on campus looking the part at 6'3-240 lbs and has impressed D line coach Ed Orgeron for his fundamental yet aggressive style of play.
What looked like it would be a thin and weak D line in 2009 is quickly becoming a strength with each and every practice. The VOLS could end up catching opponents off guard with their D line play in 2009. UT may not ever have another D line as dominant as it was a decade ago, but don't be surprised if you see a similar swagger in the trenches before the year is over.
