Evaluating the Tennessee Vols Recruiting Class at Dead Period: Tight Ends

Jul 15, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones signs autographs for fans during the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Available 2016 Prospects at Tight End

Jacob Mathis: Tampa, Fla. (Berkeley Prep)

A three-star on Rivals, Jacob Mathis is another great build at the position at 6’5″ 227 pounds. He has great hands, is a solid route-runner if he can break a bit more quickly, and is a very reliable target to go up and catch high passes. As with any high school player, it is hard to measure how much he can translate the mismatch he brings to college, but his athleticism sure helps.

Mathis is being recruited by Robert Gillespie and Mark Elder, according to Rivals. But the Vols are in a cluster of 30 other teams who have offered him, and getting him out of Florida will be tough enough with Miami and Florida recruiting him hard.

Naseir Upshur: Philadelphia, Pa. (Imhotep Inst Charter School)

Now if the Vols were to add another tight end, this would be the dream pick-up. Naseir Upshur is a four-star on Rivals and listed at 6’2″ 238 pounds. He is by far the most physical of the tight ends Tennessee is going after, noted by his skills at defensive end as well. And with a 4.7-40 time, he does not let up on his speed either. So with the exception of a bit of a height disadvantage, Upshur is a great pick-up.

The problem is that Tennessee is hardly in the running to land him. According to Rivals, of the 41 schools that have offered him a scholarship, he is currently only showing interest in eight of them, and Tennessee is not on that list. So it will be very hard to jump the Michigan schools, Maryland, Florida State, Alabama, Temple, South Carolina, Penn State, and Arizona State.

Next: Final Analysis