2016 three-star tight end Austin Pope picked up an offer from the Tennessee Volunteers over the weekend.
Extremely blessed to have just received my 3rd SEC offer from the University of Tennessee!! 🔶◽️ pic.twitter.com/SidpNT2daI
— Austin Pope (@Austin_Pope31) June 7, 2015
Pope is a 6’4″/217 lb tight end from Knoxville, TN (Christian Academy of Knoxville). 247Sports rates him as the 19th best 2016 player in the state of Tennessee and the 32nd best 2016 tight end in the nation.
The Knoxville native also has offers from Arkansas, Indiana, Memphis, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh, among several others.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that Tennessee is the heavy favorite here. In fact, if the Vols somehow miss out on Pope, it would be a massive loss.
But I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Butch Jones has promised to “own the state” since he arrived on Rocky Top and that’s exactly what he’s done so far.