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National Signing Day 2017: Grading the Tennessee Vols Recruiting Class

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Montgomery Bell Academy football player Ty Chandler talks to the media after signing his letter of intent to attend the University of Tennessee at a ceremony during National Signing Day. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK
Feb 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Montgomery Bell Academy football player Ty Chandler talks to the media after signing his letter of intent to attend the University of Tennessee at a ceremony during National Signing Day. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Feb 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Montgomery Bell Academy football player Ty Chandler hands out cake to his classmates after signing his letter of intent to attend the University of Tennessee at a ceremony during National Signing Day. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK
Feb 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Montgomery Bell Academy football player Ty Chandler hands out cake to his classmates after signing his letter of intent to attend the University of Tennessee at a ceremony during National Signing Day. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK /

Tennessee Football National Signing Day Offensive Grades

Quarterback: C

Butch Jones secured one quarterback for the Vols in this recruiting class, a three-star in Will McBride who committed back in December. McBride is not as elite as guys he was pursuing. However, the League City, Texas prospect does have talent. And it’s not a terrible loss because he is joining a competition this spring that includes three four-star quarterbacks. So Jones was good just to get a quarterback in this draft.

Running Backs: C-

With Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd gone, Butch Jones had a responsibility to bring in an elite running backs class. He did not do that. However, he did bring in another in-state superstar in Ty Chandler, a four-star. And he secured a three-star in Trey Coleman while also bringing in an overlooked two-star in Tim Jordan. With John Kelly on the roster, one of these guys is bound to work out. Still, he didn’t recruit to the level he needed to recruit here, so we can’t give it a B.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: C+

Tennessee football didn’t need to secure too many elite players at this position either due to the fact that the Vols already have four four-star receivers and two proven tight ends along with two they brought in last year. However, these are positions where you consistently want as many bodies as possible, and with Josh Malone gone, Butch Jones needed to bring in star power. He got one four-star in Jordan Murphy, but that was it. The unit simply wasn’t up to where it needed to be, especially when you consider what the roster currently looks like.

Offensive Line: B+

This is the one unit that was solid for this recruiting class. Butch Jones’s offensive line is already loaded, and here he brought in three more guys. One was a national star in Trey Smith, and he also secured a four-star in Riley Locklear. Adding two four-star recruits to an already loaded offensive line warrants a B+ here, even if the raw star power on its own is not enough to give this an A.

Overall Offensive Grade: C+

Butch Jones needed to shore up his situation at wide receiver, tight end, and running back. He didn’t do that. However, football games are won in the trenches, and he certainly added to an already deep offensive line, so that unit alone along with a couple of four-star skill players makes this a C+.

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