Potential Answers for the Recruiting Handwringers

The early excitement of the early signing period successes faded quickly, and the hemming and hawing over how the class would wrap up and how needs would be addressed were renewed. However, despite the dead period the staff never has let up in recruiting, maintaining new offers to go with increased electronic and written communications within the rules. With 8-11 potential spots remaining, let's go into who has signed, who has committed to us, and who is being targeted to round out the class.

• Quarterback 
• Signee JT Shrout, 6-3, 190, 3-star
• Shrout will wrap up the class at the quarterback position, joined presumably by preferred walk-on Bart Harris of Missouri, who checks in at 6-4, 210.
• Running Back
• Signee Jeremy Banks, 6-2, 215, 4-star
• Commit Anthony Grant, 5-11, 200, 3-star
• Targets C'Bo Flemister 6-0, 192, 3-star
• Banks is locked in, but as for who will be the second back in the class things are a bit more uncertain. Keeping Grant in the fold appears to be one of the top priorities of the new staff, and they certainly made their play during his official visit the weekend of the 19th. Virginia Tech is definitely still a player for Grant, and Florida State is making a push for him. Jashaun Corbin was once committed to the Vols and intends to take another look their way after the coaching changes around the country. He's a very productive all-purpose back and landing him would add a lot of versatility to the backfield.  Flemister is being pursued as an athlete with the potential to play running back or corner in Knoxville. He visited on the 12th and seemed to indicate that he was leaning toward the Vols, but a new offer from Notre Dame has clouded the issue some. He will decide close to National Signing Day between Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Notre Dame.
• Wide Receiver 
• Signee Alontae Taylor, 6-0, 184, 4-star
• Commit Jordan Young, 6-2, 185, 4-star
• Targets Jacob Copeland (6-0, 192, 4-star), Geordon Porter (6-2, 180, 3-star), Cedric Tillman (6-3, 205, 3-star)
• Alontae Taylor had an interesting recruitment, but in the end his second commitment to the Vols led to him signing. Jordan Young had an interesting recruitment in his own right, being unranked and unnoticed at the point at which Tennessee offered him. He visited, was offered, and jumped on board. He was then quickly ranked and 247Sports put him in their Top247 at #190 in the country after he had a huge senior season with 66 receptions for 1,562 yards and 17 touchdowns. After a visit to FSU, Young is looking a bit less likely to stick, but everyone will have to wait until signing day to know for sure. Taylor has been working to lure Copeland among others to Knoxville, but it looks like Copeland is pretty open at the moment. He has been to Knoxville, but at present doesn't have any known plans to make his way back before NSD. Florida is considered the leader for Copeland at this point. Geordon Porter was one of the new offers that they put out there, and after his visit on the 12th he named Tennessee as his leader. Things have since gotten a bit quieter in his recruitment as far as Tennessee is concerned. His most recent visit was to UCLA, and he plans to visit Texas A&M before deciding around NSD. Tillman, the son of a former NFL receiver with the Broncos and Jaguars, received a late offer as things with Young began to look shakier. The Vols shot to the top of his list. It's possible he could wait to decide after NSD.
• Tight End 
• Signees Dominick Wood-Anderson (6-5, 245, 4-star) and Jacob Warren (6-6, 211, 3-star)
• Target Glenn Beal, 6-5, 265, 3-star
• I was previously under the impression that we would wrap things up at two additions, but the door seems to be open to adding Beal, a larger, more college ready tight end than Warren following the graduation of primary tight ends Ethan Wolf and Jakob Warren. Dominick Wood-Anderson is very much a college ready tight end, even at the SEC level. Beal could also potentially play defensive end, and the option of moving current tight end Latrell Bumphus to defense may be on the table as well. Beal is currently believed to be leaning toward Texas A&M, but the in-demand tight end is checking out Alabama and Florida before deciding.
• Offensive Line 
• Signees Jerome Carvin (6-4, 330, 4-star), Jahmir Johnson (6-5, 290, 4-star), Tanner Antonutti (6-5, 260, 3-star), Ollie Lane (6-5, 285, 3-star)
• Their four surefire additions are all quality additions to the roster, but the depth is on the thinner side. No additions appear likely at this time.
• Defensive Line 
• Signees Greg Emerson (6-3, 280, 4-star), Brant Lawless (6-3, 285, 4-star), Kingston Harris (6-4, 272, 3-star)
• Commit D'Andre Litaker, 6-2, 302, 4-star
• Targets Nesta Silvera (6-2, 308, 4-star), Emmit Gooden (6-4, 295, 4-star), Jermayne Lole (6-3, 270, 3-star), John Mincey (6-4, 255, 3-star), Otito Ogbonnia (6-4, 290, 3-star), Kurott Garland (6-3, 250, unranked)
• Litaker seems increasingly unlikely to be a member of the program, barring a shift in momentum in the coming weeks. His ongoing knee injuries have complicated his position with the new staff. The staff is looking to add more bodies to the roster as they proceed to shift from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 base, although the nickel and dime packages will still likely be run from a four man front. Miami commit Nesta Silvera somewhat came out of nowhere to visit the Vols. He never commented on the visit and he seems unlikely to be a Vol. Gooden was a former Vol commit out of high school before grades led him to the JUCO ranks. Now he's back on the market and the Vols are currently feeling pretty good about their chances with him as long as the grades are good to go. Jermayne Lole was all set to commit on NSD until a late offer from the Vols muddied the waters. Now he may wait until after signing day in order to make a visit to Knoxville if the Vols still have room to fit him in the class. Arkansas decommitment Mincey made a visit and the Vols left quite the impression. Things currently appear close between South Carolina and Tennessee to land his signature. Ogbonnia made the trip to Knoxville and seems very interested in the Vols. How high he is on the Vols board is tougher to gauge. Kurott Garland was another late addition to the visitor list. Like Young, he's gone unranked. Like Young, his numbers and size would seem to suggest that he should be a much more noteworthy name in this recruiting cycle. I'm listing him as a defensive lineman right now mainly because I'm not sure how exactly the staff is viewing him. I wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee added two more defensive linemen to the class.
• Linebacker 
• Signee Jordan Allen, 6-5, 230, 4-star
• Commit JJ Peterson, 6-3, 231, 4-star
• Targets Quay Walker, 6-4, 236, 5-star
• It's hard to say right now how many linebackers they may take at this point, but two seems to be the minimum target number. Peterson has committed to the Vols and will make his first trip to campus the weekend of the 12th. Walker, originally scheduled to visit the Vols the final weekend before NSD, has moved his visit up and will now visit the weekend of the 12th. While programs like Auburn, Georgia, and Florida feel good about where they are with him, his move with his OV may be a good sign for the Vols. Tennessee continues to feel good about where they stand with the big time linebacker, but it's worth noting that Georgia is also optimistic.
• Defensive Back 
• Commit Brandon Davis, 5-11, 160, 3-star
• Targets Tyson Campbell (6-3, 180, 5-star), Olaijah Griffin (6-0, 170, 5-star), Isaac Taylor-Stuart (6-2, 187, 5-star), Taiyon Palmer (6-0, 178, 4-star), Trevon Flowers (6-1, 185, 3-star), Dyllan Lester (6-0, 190, 3-star)
• Tennessee lost all their secondary commitments along the way through the coaching change, either due to the recruits choosing to look around or having the choice made for them by the new staff, with four former commits having signed elsewhere, but don't think the Vols are in trouble here. Campbell was in no way, shape or form interested in the Vols prior to the new staff being in place. He doesn't seem likely to be a Vol, but he also hasn't done a lot of talking since his visit. Taylor-Stuart really sounded impressed by his visit, and the Vols are likely competing with USC for his signature. There is cautious optimism here. Olaijah Griffin has visited already and since decommitted from UCLA. Currently it looks like the Vols have lost ground here and Alabama and USC look like his two most likely destinations. Taiyon Palmer is a recently offered player with a lot of offers, including schools like Clemson, Arkansas, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech among others. He's made it on campus and seems genuinely interested, but most think NC State is the team to beat. Trevon Flowers was having some trouble getting onto campus, but all signs now are it is a Clemson and Tennessee race for his services, with many believing the Vols have the edge. Dyllan Lester, a teammate of 5-star corners Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain Jr., was a late offer by the Vols. The UCF commit is probably a backup plan, but it's clear that there is talent there to go with his size and he was mostly overshadowed by his taller and more heralded teammates. Brandon Davis is a teammate of tight end target Glenn Beal who got a late offer from Tennessee and quickly changed his plans to visit. The staff has compared him to former LSU and current Arizona Cardinal defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, aka the Honey Badger. Following his visit, he expressed that the Vols were his leader.
• Specialists
• Signee Paxton Brooks, 6-5, 170, 3-star
• Brooks seems likely to be the only specialist the Vols will sign this cycle, but they are set to add East Mississippi Community College punter Grayson Pontius, teammate of potential receiver target Mike Williams. 
• Athlete
• Targets Tre'Shaun Harrison, 6-2, 190, 4-star
• Harrison visited and left feeling good about the Vols, but it still seems pretty likely that he'll end up deciding between Oregon and Florida State. Never say never, but the previous Oregon commit seems likely to choose between the school he committed to and the coach he did. 

So, all things being equal, I think the Vols will certainly add players tomorrow, and there is a possibility of two of those additions being 5-star recruits. The Vols could close strong, but nothing is set in stone yet as it's likely some kids will still change their minds as the next few hours progress. Keep an eye on Twitter and the recruiting sites, and I'll be updating who has signed as the day goes on.