OAK RIDGE — University of Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt has offered an area high school star.
The Volunteers offered Oak Ridge High School running back Kendall Jackson a scholarship on June 18.
It was his fourth NCAA Division I offer and his first to come from the Southeastern Conference.
A rising junior for the Wildcats, Jackson also has offers from Tulane, Arizona and Eastern Kentucky. His offers have came rolling in since April.
He appeared in two high school games as a freshman and had just two carries as part of a talented crop of Oak Ridge running backs.
As a sophomore, he was ushered into the starting lineup as the Wildcats had two of their top backs graduate.
Jackson shined in his opportunity.
He played in all 12 games for the Wildcats in 2019 and rushed for 914 yards, scored 11 touchdowns – all on 158 carries.
Oak Ridge finished last season with a 6-6 record, playing in Region 3-5A against the likes of Powell, Fulton, Campbell County and Class 5A state semifinalist West High in Knoxville.
Wildcats’ coach Joe Gaddis, a high school legend in the southeast, had high praise for Jackson at a recent high school media day.
“He’s probably the fastest guy on our team and he’s one of the strongest backs that I’ve ever coached,” Gaddis said.