2020 Tennessee football recruiting.
KNOXVILLE – Tennessee football put its finishing touches on the 2020 recruiting class on Wednesday, rounding out Jeremy Pruitt’s third class since taking over as the head coach in Knoxville.
With Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway graduating and moving on to the NFL Draft, Tennessee loses not only most of its production from the wide receiver position, but a great deal of length and athleticism with an ability to high point the football and bring it down in a crowd of defenders.
The Vols may be forced to rely more on speed in 2020, but do make up some of what they lost after 2019 in Malachi Wideman, a former Florida State commit who flipped to Tennessee on National Signing Day.
Wideman is a 6-foot-4, 197-pound receiver from Venice, Fla. that rates as a 4-star prospect and the No. 22 wide receiver in his class, per the 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee gets a two-for-one deal with Wideman, who will likely play basketball for the Vols under Rick Barnes.
“When Malachi Wideman came on his official visit, we got him with Rick Barnes and the basketball staff,” said Pruitt during his press conference on Wednesday. “When you recruit guys who play multiple sports, you have to do that.
“They’re on football scholarship, but you lay out a plan for them to have success in other sports.”
Wideman has incredible bounce and athletic ability that is on full display on his high school tape, whether it is on the gridiron or the hardwood. At 6-foot-4, Wideman shows a rare escapability for his size, with a long stride and speed that allowed him to excel both in the slot and as an outside receiver for Venice High School.
Florida State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Auburn, Georgia and several others were in the running for Wideman’s signature, but the wideout will be in Knoxville in a wide receiver room with a lot to prove.
