Tag: Tennessee

As Tennessee football looks to sift through a congested quarterback battle before the 2020 season, the process continues to bring future signal-callers to Knoxville.

The Vols extended an offer to highly-touted 2022 pro-style quarterback Quinn Ewers earlier in the week, and followed it up with an offer towards 2021 dual-threat prospect Lonnie White Jr.

Extremely blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee!! @CoachOsovet @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/gwiaNzJOVC

— Lonnie White Jr (@lonwhite10) April 2, 2020

White’s offer came after his conversation with tight ends coach Joe Osovet, who has been quite busy in recruiting the northeastern region of the country. Just this week, Tennessee has offered Pennsylvania tight end Mathias Barnwell and New York defensive end Jimmy Scott with Osovet leading the charge.

White is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback from Malvern, Pa. that is rated a 3-star and the No. 32 dual-threat signal-caller in his class on the 247Sports Composite.

White is also a highly rated baseball player and is currently committed to play at Clemson.

He has a lengthy offer list on the football side, with Boston College, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and several others.

Tennessee has shown it is willing to let players pursue multiple sports while on a football scholarship. In the 2020 recruiting class, wide receivers Dee Beckwith and Malachi Wideman signed to play football and basketball. Local dual-threat quarterback Kaden Martin – the son of Tennessee wide receivers coach Tee Martin – also received offers from UT to play both football and baseball.

Tennessee baseball has not offered White, and it is unclear whether he wants to pursue a collegiate career playing both sports. Tennessee does not yet have a quarterback committed to its 2021 recruiting class.

Recently hired outside linebackers coach for Tennessee, Shelton Felton, is looking to court a player he recruited during his time at Akron, his last coaching stop.

Defensive end prospect T.J. Sanders from Marion, S.C. was offered by the Vols to be a part of the 2021 recruiting class, according to his Twitter account.

Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee 🧡 #govols @shelton_felton @CoachBrumbaugh @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/vtQI8WroaL

— Tj Sanders (@Tj_Sanders24) April 1, 2020

Sanders is a 3-star prospect, and the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2021 South Carolina cycle, according to 247Sports. Felton is the primary recruiter for Sanders, who is listed as a strong-side defensive end. Defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, who was hired from Colorado in the same time frame as Felton, is aiding the recruitment.

South Carolina, Akron, Syracuse, West Virginia and others are also pursuing Sanders.

Tennessee tight ends coach Joe Osovet is quite familiar with the recruiting landscape in the northeast, thanks to his time as the head coach at ASA College in New York.

Many of Tennessee’s prospects from that footprint have Osovet leading the charge in their recruitment, and it is no different for 2023 tight end Mathias Barnwell from Spotslyvania, Pa.

After a great talk with @CoachOsovet , I am Very Humbled and Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Tennessee🍊 @CoachKSparks pic.twitter.com/PByh1lOdpH

— Mathias MEGA Barnwell (@mega_barnwell) April 1, 2020

Barnwell is only a freshman at Spotsylvania High School, but has a 6-foot-5, 238-pound frame that has certainly caught the eye of college football coaches. Duke, Ole Miss, Penn State, Virginia Tech and others have joined the effort in courting him.

With three more high school football seasons to play, Barnwell’s prep career is still in its infancy. Osovet will have more than enough time to develop a relationship that could potentially bring him to Knoxville.

The future of the quarterback position at Tennessee appears to be in good hands with former Marietta High School blue chip prospect Harrison Bailey set to begin his freshman season in a crowded quarterback room.

Tennessee continues to try and build its roster for the future and the Vols ventured into the Lone Star State to offer a scholarship to 2022 pro-style quarterback prospect Quinn Ewers.

Very excited to say I have received an offer from the University of Tennessee!! pic.twitter.com/UIYMFoYxGT

— Quinn Ewers (@QuinnEwers) April 1, 2020

The Vols have some ground to gain in Ewers’ recruitment as Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Auburn and Ohio State are already heavily involved.

Ewers is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect that rates as a 4-star and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in his class, according to 247Sports. Ewers was named the 2019 MaxPreps sophomore of the year after leading his Southlake Carroll team to a 13-0 record before being eliminated in the quarterfinal of the 6A playoffs.

He has the size coaches covet, along with arm strength and consistency in making downfield throws. His ability comes at a young age and against top competition in Texas high school football.

Ewers nearly eclipsed 4,000 passing yards in 2019 and posted a touchdown to interception ratio at 45-3. He also added nine rushing touchdowns.

It may be too late for Tennessee in Ewers’ recruitment, and by the time he reaches his college destination, Bailey will be entering his junior season. The Vols do not currently have any players committed to the 2022 recruiting class, but will certainly be looking for a quarterback in that cycle.

Any time an offensive tackle stands at 6-foot-6, 257-pounds as a high school sophomore, attention will be drawn by college recruiters.

Throw in raw talent, athleticism and weekly competition against some of the best in Tennessee high school football, and 2022 Franklin High School prospect Fisher Anderson already has a litany of offers from Power 5 programs.

Tennessee is on a continuously growing list, that has recently been stretched to the west coast as Arizona State provided Anderson his first Pac-12 scholarship offer.

Very grateful for the call with @KevinMawae and offer from Arizona State University 🔱😈 #SunDevils pic.twitter.com/EFt1AUG0pN

— Fisher Anderson (@FisherA_) April 1, 2020

Anderson announced the offer on his Twitter account, citing a conversation with Arizona State offensive analyst Kevin Mawae. Mawae is an LSU alumnus, a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman, and a name highly recognized in the Nashville community from his time on the Tennessee Titans from 2006-09.

Anderson plays football and basketball for the Franklin Rebels in Franklin, Tenn., just outside of Music City. The Rebels are in Region 6-6A, going up against the likes of Ravenwood, Brentwood and Independence on a weekly basis. That means consistent reps against highly recruited defensive prospects such as Junior Colson and Reggie Grimes Jr.

Tennessee wide receivers coach Tee Martin is Anderson’s primary recruiter, along with offensive line coach Will Friend. Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, and Virginia Tech have all offered Anderson, among others. There is still a long way to go in Anderson’s recruitment, but if the Vols want to keep him in state, they will have to compete with a laundry list of Power 5 programs from across the country.

Tennessee does not yet have any prospects committed to the 2022 recruiting class.