Vols Recruiting: Josh Malone Prediction

Apr 20, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans line up for autographs before the spring Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

I’ll admit it.

Vonn Bell’s shunning of Tennessee — when I thought for sure he’d be a Vol — last February makes me a little gun shy about making a prediction for Rivals’ five-star wide receiver Josh Malone.

Of course Malone’s decision is a completely different situation, but there some similarities.

Malone, like Bell, has been pretty quiet about his recruiting process. He also has done his due-diligence and taken his decision very very seriously. Again that’s very much like Bell.

The biggest difference — and best news for Vol fans — is the fact that Butch Jones has had a year to recruit Malone.

Jones only had two months to recruit Bell and made up a considerable amount of ground in those two months.

If Jones would’ve had a year to recruit Bell, he’d be wearing orange right now.

Most recruiting experts consider the Vols the favorite to land the 6’3″/190 lb stud wide receiver.

The majority of the time, the recruiting insiders are correct.

Malone plans to be an early enrollee wherever he chooses to attend.

It’s no coincidence that Dominique Booth, a four-star WR that planned to enroll this spring at Tennessee, recently decommitted from the Vols due to him being unable to enroll early.

That’s a good sign for Vol fans, as it likely indicates that the Vols are trying to make room for Malone — clearly the better prospect of the two — to enroll early.

I’m going to go with the masses with my prediction for Malone.

Prediction: Josh Malone Commits To Tennessee