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

Nov 22, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Alex Ellis (48) catches a pass from holder Patrick Ashford (not pictured) on a fake field goal attempt and rushes for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Final Analysis

The Tennessee Volunteers would immediately welcome any new elite commitment at tight end, as that is a position with versatility that allows for depth at other positions. But they do not need anymore players at the position at this moment. Butch Jones has done a tremendous job building it up, and it is on solid ground.

Ethan Wolf is the tight end of the future, and while Alex Ellis provides depth this year, A.J. Branisel and Wolf will have two more years together to shine at the position. So if one of them gets hurt, the skill is still there, and the loaded amount of wide receivers only makes things better.

On top of that, even with Ellis leaving after this year, Wolf and Branisel will be juniors in 2016, and Devante Brooks and Austin Pope will be incoming freshmen. That makes for four tight ends who are all going to be good enough to be regular contributors, so the depth at the position is at least set until the 2018 season.

That means Jones has another year at least before he has to worry about the position down the line, because the Vols are set with three years of solid tight end play provided there are no de-commitments.

Next: Prediction