1. Shy Tuttle
The Vols have several elite defensive tackles targeted in the 2015 class, and one of the best of those is North Carolina’s No. 1 overall prospect, Shy Tuttle.
Tuttle is a 5-star defensive tackle from Lexington, North Carolina that has captivated many of the top programs around the country. The 6-3, 315 lbs tackle is the No. 29 overall player in the country, and he holds offers from 17 different schools.
As a sophomore, Tuttle dominated, amassing 97 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, 18 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. His junior season saw his production dip a bit, registering 73 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, and an interception he returned for a touchdown. Regardless, he’s been a playmaker all three seasons with North Davidson, piling up 244 tackles and 44 tackles for a loss in that time.
A few days ago, Tuttle released his top 5 schools, and the Vols made the cut. Tennessee is his only SEC school on his list, and the ACC is dominating his recruiting, as North Carolina, N.C. State, Clemson, and Miami are the other teams in his list.
The Vols may be right in the mix for Tuttle, but it is looking more and more like North Carolina will land the 5-star tackle. He’s in their back yard, and he looks almost dead set on playing in the ACC.
Even if the Vols miss out on Tuttle, they have plenty of other options they are pursuing that would lessen the blow of missing out on him.