Tennessee football recruiting: Vols offer graduate QB and 2019, 2020 prospects

Tennessee football recruiting had another big day Tuesday. The Volunteers are pursuing a graduate transfer quarterback and offered 2019 and 2020 prospects.

Jeremy Pruitt and his staff have been all over the recruiting trail for 2018. But on Tuesday, Tennessee football went after a transfer and then future targets. And all could be huge pickups for the Vols.

The big story of the day was Tennessee extending a blueshirt offer to graduate transfer Alex Thomson, according to a report from Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. This offer comes on the heels of Quinten Dormady announcing he is transferring.

Thomson, a 6’5″ 225-pound prospect from Wagner College, is a pro-style quarterback who would have two years left. He would be able to play immediately.

A walk-on two years ago with little recognition, Thomson had 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2016, he became a national name on the FCS level. He missed most of this past season due to a shoulder injury. However, his 2016 performance and praise from former NFL star Phil Simms and current San Francisco 49ers coach Rich Scangarello, both of whom called him an NFL quarterback, have significantly elevate his stock.

As a result, Thomson could be a huge pickup for the Vols. Competing with Jarrett Guarantano and JT Shrout, Tyson Helton’s advanced offensive scheme should be able to find its quarterback. And Thomson could immediately help so the Vols don’t have to wait to rebuild given his experience.

But Thomson wasn’t the only offer Tennessee football made Tuesday. They also started looking ahead to 2019 and 2020 for new prospects.

The Vols’ first 2019 offer was to Warren Burrell. Burrell is a three-star cornerback out of Suwanee, Ga.

Their next 2019 offer was to Joshua Harris. Harris is a three-star defensive tackle from Roxboro, N.C. He’s already a Top 10 player in the state and a Top 12 player in the nation.

The real splash for that year, though, came later in the evening. Tennessee football offered four-star safety Demani Richardson. Richardson, out of Waxahachie, Texas, is already a Top 100 player in the nation. He’s a Top 10 player in the state and the No. 6 ranked player at his position.

Tennessee football’s staff looked ahead to 2020 on Tuesday as well. The first one was to defensive lineman Johnnie Brown. Brown has no ratings on Rivals, but 247Sports ranks him as the top player at that position for his class. A Tampa, Fla. prospect, Brown currently stands at 6’3″ 234 pounds. He likely will get even bigger before he signs anywhere.

And finally, the Vols stayed in state for their final 2020 offer. Tennessee football turned to Memphis by offering Omari Thomas, who goes to Briarcrest Christian. Thomas is listed as a defensive end on Rivals and already stands at 6’5″ 265 pounds.

With all of these offers, it was clearly a major but unique recruiting day for Tennessee football. The Vols extended numerous offers for the future.

At the same time, however, Jeremy Pruitt and the staff made what could be the most important offer for their immediate future. If they can get a graduate transfer quarterback who immediately can start, that’s a great point to begin their tenure on Rocky Top. Pruitt clearly is working 24/7, and that shows more than ever now that he’s the full-time Tennessee football coach.