Vols
Class Analysis:
Underrated:
Top Impact
Player:
In Butch Jones’ first year as the Volunteers head coach, he has assembled a massive class that is filled with talent, headlined by four star RB Jalen Hurd and four star WR Josh Malone.
Looking at this class, it’s obvious that Jones wanted to focus on creating depth on an O-line that just lost all of its starters from the previous year, including a possible first or second round pick in Tiny Richardson. Currently, the Vols have 5 O-linemen committed, with a great JUCO player in Dontavius Blair, a massive 6’8 300 pound OT out of Garden City Community College.
Other than the OL, Jones wants to upgrade his offensive weapons at the WR and RB positions, and was able to continue the Volunteers recent streak of getting outstanding WR’s by keeping Josh Malone instate. With running back looking thin right now, Hurd, four star Derrell Scott, and three star Treyvon Paulk will all be competing for playing time in the fall.
The Vols suffered very little attrition during NSD, most notably three star OT Orlando Brown, who was an academic non-qualifier, and signed later in the day with Oklahoma. Coach Jones brought in three star OG Michael Sawyers to replace the loss of Brown.
Overall this is still a very solid class headed by four star RB Jalen Hurd and four star WR Josh Malone, and the Vols maintain their number one ranking from before NSD.
After losing the entire starting offensive line, which includes a top OT in Antonio “Tiny” Richardson, there is a dire need at UT for linemen who are able to play from day one, and Dontavious Blair is one of them. As a former All-American from his JUCO conference, Blair obviously has the talent and experience necessary to make a major impact for Butch Jones when the season starts, and by already enrolling at UT, Blair has been able to study Coach Jones’s offense and help his case for playing early. In addition to his ability as a player, Blair also brings a large body with him that you do not normally see from the typical high school OL recruits. He will have big shoes to fill at UT, but he has the size and the ability to do it.
With only one veteran RB on the roster for Butch Jones, snagging a running back who can come in early and contribute was key, and Jalen Hurd is that guy. While he seems a little tall for a RB, but he possesses the skills necessary to make up for that less than ideal size. Another reason that he will contribute early is the fact that he has already enrolled at UT and will have gone through spring and summer training before the season starts, giving him a leg up on the two other backs signed in UT’s class. He also has the speed and situational awareness to make an impact on special teams.
Although he was highly recruited, Dillon Bates is my pick for the underrated player in this Vol’s class. Most fans talk about Malone or Hurd, but Bates has a good chance to make a huge impact on the Vol’s Defense. He has pretty good size and speed, and should figure into the LB rotation at some point this season.