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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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Oct 25, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers Vol Walk stadium entrance prior to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers Vol Walk stadium entrance prior to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Tennessee Football National Signing Day Defensive Grades

Defensive Line: B+

The Vols were one more commitment away from an A here. After all, they brought in five defensive ends and two defensive tackles. And two of those seven players were four-stars, bringing in lots of depth to a unit that already has a ton of talent. However, Butch Jones was hoping to make this class historically great, and by suffering the decommitment of the Gaddy twins while also missing out on Elijah Conliffe, he failed in that regard. So the unit was docked down to a B+.

Linebackers: C

Tennessee football has suffered massively inconsistent play at linebacker for a while now, and they need another reliable player outside of Darrin Kirkland Jr. Kirkland has to be healthy anyway. As a result, Butch Jones needed a star-studded linebacker class. He didn’t get it. Jones secured two three-stars and a four-star at linebacker, which keeps the unit very thin and unproven for the future unless all three guys work out.

Secondary: B+

With the departure of Cameron Sutton and a new secondary coach, Tennessee football needed a solid class here for 2017. They did pretty well with bringing in five guys, two of whom are four-star recruits. There is already talent in the secondary, but it needs more depth and a couple more talented guys to be able to step in for Sutton. Butch Jones filled that void with this class, so even though it wasn’t star-studded, it still gets recognition.

Overall Defensive Grade: B

Butch Jones did very well up front and in the back end, but he really needed to shore up the linebacker corps. as well, and his lack of heavy recruiting there is what sets this grade down to a B instead of a B+.

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