Tennessee Football Recruiting Live Blog and Tracker: Vols 2017 National Signing Day Primer

For 2017 National Signing Day, check Tennessee football recruiting news, updates, and analysis here. See how the Volunteers perform.

After a second straight 9-4 finish and Top 25 ranking to end the season, Butch Jones and Tennessee football had another Top 15 finish. 

The Vols did not finish with the year they wanted in 2016 given their Top 10 preseason ranking, but they have demonstrated now that they can stay in the mix with Jones at the helm. Now, the focus has to be on continually putting together solid recruiting classes.

Here, we bring you all the necessary coverage of Butch Jones’s fifth recruiting class. This is where you can come for all the updates on National Signing Day in 2017.

Take a look at our live blog, our recruiting board of Tennessee football targets, and the list of who’s enrolled and who’s committed but not yet signed.

So with lots of focus on the future, here is a real time look at Tennessee football’s 2017 recruiting class.

Live Blog

1:45 p.m.-Three-star wide receiver Jordan Pouncey announces his commitment to the Texas Longhorns. Pouncey narrowed Tennessee football down into his top three and, according to all reports, was extremely impressed by his visit with the Vols. However, it wasn’t enough, and he committed to the Longhorns after a commitment hype video. Click here to see the full story.

1:15 p.m.-Four-star defensive end LaBryan Ray announces his commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ray had been down to Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama, and the Vols seemed to be the only team in real competition for him outside of Alabama down the stretch. Reports suggested that Tennessee football commit Trey Smith tried to get involved in recruiting him to Knoxville, but it didn’t work. Click on the link above to see the full story.

12:38 p.m.-Four-star linebacker Will Ignont signs LOI to play for the Vols. A prospect out of New Market, Ala., Tennessee football desperately needs help at the linebacker spot right now with only Darrin Kirkland Jr. as a proven player. They have missed on many guys, and given his raw talents already, Ignont could definitely make a play into the rotation as a true freshman.

12:02 p.m.-Three star defensive back Theo Jackson signs LOI to play for the Vols. Jackson committed last June and could play sooner rather than later since he joins a unit that massively under-achieved on one side last year.

11:38 a.m.-Three-star kicker Brent Cimaglia signs his LOI to play for the Vols. With Aaron Medley going into his senior year, Butch Jones kept a highly touted kicker in-state to join Tennessee football, which is huge. And given Medley’s inconsistencies, he may even have some competition at the position.

11:35 a.m.-Three-star running back Trey Coleman signs his LOI to play for the Vols. Coleman, out of West Monroe, La., committed back in June and joins a class that has two other players at the position. But the field is wide open for playing time next year with John Kelly as the only guy with a sure chance to play given the departures of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.

10:53 a.m.-Three-star defensive end Marquez Bambry signs his LOI to play for the Vols. Bambry is a very agile defensive lineman who brings a ton of versatility to Tennessee football, and at just 210 pounds now, he has plenty of room to gain weight and still enjoy that versatility.

10:40 a.m.-Four-star defensive tackle Aaron Sterling commits to South Carolina over Tennessee. Sterling was down to the Gamecocks and the Vols for the last week, and after confusion by both teams announcing his commitment Wednesday morning, he picked the Gamecocks. Click on the link for the full story.

10:24 a.m.-Four-star wide receiver Jordan Murphy signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Murphy is a Mississippi prospect and one of the top skill players to commit to this Tennessee football class.

10:23 a.m.-Three-star wide receiver Jacquez Jones signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Jones is a Clearwater, Fla. prospect, where new offensive coordinator Larry Scott has a direct pipeline.

10:16 a.m.-Two-star running back Tim Jordan signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Jordan comes out of Florida and committed in January. Despite his low rating, he does fill a skill need, and with John Kelly, Butch Jones has already shown an ability to scout undervalued talent here. So don’t be shocked if he becomes a standout player.

9:25 a.m.-Three-star offensive lineman K’Rojhn Calbert signs his LOI to play for the Vols. Calbert, an in-state prospect, committed to Tennessee football in November, beefing up an already loaded offensive line.

9:24 a.m.-Four-star defensive end LaTrell Bumphus signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Bumphis is an in-state prospect who committed to the Vols last year, and having played on offense and defense, he brings a ton of versatility to a defensive line that definitely needs help.

9:15 a.m.-Four-star running back Ty Chandler signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Chandler is another elite Nashville running back and could come in and come in and make an immediate impact for Tennessee football with the losses of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. Only John Kelly is in his way.

8:59 a.m.-Three-star defensive tackle Eric Crosby signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Crosby committed to the Vols back in January and seemed like more of a replacement player after the decommitment of the Gaddy twins. Still, his commitment helps to beef up that defensive line.

8:57 a.m.-Three-star defensive end Ryan Thaxton signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Thaxton is another Virginia defensive lineman who committed to this class loaded at that position in January. He continued the Tennessee football tradition of getting guys out of the DMV.

8:48 a.m.-Four-star defensive back Malek signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Gray committed to Tennessee football back in June of 2016 and hasn’t wavered since. His main strength is at safety, and that’s a spot that could use some help.

8:45 a.m.-Three-star athlete Javonta Payton commits to the Ole Miss Rebels over the Tennessee Vols. Payton was an in-state prospect that Butch Jones definitely could have used for his offense and seemed like he would be a steal on Signing Day. But he went to Hugh Freeze instead. Click on the link for the full story.

8:43 a.m.-Four-star defensive back Terrell Bailey signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Bailey comes in as a cornerback, which adds more depth to the position with Cameron Sutton gone, and given the defensive back struggles last year, he has a chance to play early.

8:30 a.m.-Three-star tight end James Brown signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Brown committed in October and could immediately enter the mix with Jason Croom gone and Ethan Wolf a senior.

8:21 a.m.-Cheyenne Labruzza signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Labruzza, a three-star defensive backs, was one of Butch Jones’s earlier commitments, as he came on board in April of 2016.

8:12 a.m.-Three-star wide receiver Josh Palmer signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Palmer committed to Tennessee football back in January to help shore up the skill players in this recruiting class.

8:09 a.m.-Three-star linebacker Solon Page III signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Coming out of Georgia, Page committed back in April. Given Tennessee football’s misses on linebackers in recent years, maybe Page could turn into a steal.

8:08 a.m.-Four-star defensive tackle Kivon Bennett signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Bennett, out of Florida, was part of the heavy week of Tennessee football commitments back in June. He brings immediate help in the middle on the defensive line, which struggled down the stretch last year.

7:56 a.m.-Three-star cornerback Shawn Shamburger signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Shamburger committed to Tennessee football at the start of November and brings depth to a unit that lost its best player and struggled significantly last year.

7:30 a.m.-Three-star defensive end Matthew Butler signs his LOI to play with the Vols. Butler, a North Carolina prospect, was one of the first commitments after the decommitment of the Gaddy twins. He committed in December to help replace that void on the defensive line.

Recruiting Board for Signing Day

Top Prospects Tennessee Football Lost Out On

• LaBryan Ray-4*-DE-Madison, Ala. (James Clemens H.S.)-6’4″ 260 lbs

Committed to Alabama Crimson Tide; Full story here

• Elijah Conliffe-4*-Defensive Tackle-Hampton, Va. (Hampton H.S.)-6’4″ 305 lbs

Committed to Florida Gators; Full story here

• Javonta Payton-3*-Athlete-Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro H.S.)-6’2″ 172 lbs

Committed to Ole Miss Rebels; Full story here

• Jordan Pouncey-3*-WR-Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park H.S.)-6’3″ 182 lbs

Committed to Texas Longhorns; Full story here

• Aaron Sterling-4*-Defensive Tackle-Stone Mountain, Ga. (Tucker H.S.)-6’1″ 260 lbs

Committed to South Carolina Gamecocks; Full story here

In the Clubhouse (28 Committee) (Rivals Star Count Next to Name)

Early Enrollees

• Deandre Johnson-3*-DE-Miami, Fla. (Miami Southridge H.S.)-6’3″ 234 lbs
• Riley Locklear-4*-OL-Huntington, W. Va. (Spring Valley H.S.)-6’5″ 285 lbs
• Will McBride-3*-QB-League City, Texas (Clear Springs H.S.)-6’2″ 200 lbs
• Shanon Reid-3*-OLB-Fort Myers, Fla. (Dunbar H.S.)-6’1″ 200 lbs
• Trey Smith-4*-OT-Jackson, Tenn. (University School of Jackson)-6’5″ 305 lbs

Signed Letter of Intent

• Terrell Bailey-4*-DB-Marrero, La. (John Ehret H.S.)-6’0″ 175 lbs
• Marquez Bembry-3*-DE-Atlanta, Ga. (Mount Vernon Presbyterian H.S.)-6’3″ 210 lbs
• Kivon Bennett-4*-DT-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.)-6’3″ 255 lbs
• James Brown-3*-TE-Orlando, Fla. (Jones H.S.)-6’4″ 210 lbs
• LaTrell Bumphus-4*-DE-Savannah, Tenn. (Hardin County H.S.)-6’4″ 230 lbs
• Matthew Butler-3*-DE-Garner, N.C. (Garner H.S.)-6’4″ 265 lbs
• K’Rojhn Calbert-3*-OL-McMinnville, Tenn. (Warren County H.S.)-6’6″ 285 lbs
• Ty Chandler-4*-RB-Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell Academy)-5’11” 194 lbs
• Brent Cimaglia-3*-K-Franklin, Tenn. (Fred J. Page H.S.)-6’0″ 215 lbs
• Trey Coleman-3*-RB-West Monroe, La. (West Monroe H.S.)-6’1″ 201 lbs
• Eric Crosby-3*-DT-Virginia Beach, Va. (Ocean Lakes H.S.)-6’3″ 275 lbs
• Maleik Gray-4*-DB-LaVergne, Tenn. (LaVergne H.S.)-6’1″ 196 lbs
• Jacquez Jones-3*-WR-Clearwater, Fla. (Clearwater H.S.)-5’11” 164 lbs
• Tim Jordan-2*-RB-Bartow, Fla. (Bartow H.S.)-6’0″ 185 lbs
• Cheyenne Labruzza-3*-DB-Albany, La. (Albany H.S.)-6’0″ 183 lbs
• Jordan Murphy-4*-WR-Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg H.S.)-6’1″ 165 lbs
• Solon Page III-3*-LB-Marietta, Ga. (Kell H.S.)-6’2″ 200 lbs
• Josh Palmer-3*-WR-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.)-6’2″ 190 lbs
• Shawn Shamburger-3*-DB-Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County H.S.)-5’11” 185 lbs
• Ryan Thaxton-3*-DE-Alexandria, Va. (St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes H.S.)-6’5″ 250 lbs

Committed, Not Yet Signed

• Princeton Fant-3*-ATH-LaVergne, Tenn. (Overton, H.S.)-6’2″ 179 lbs