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Tennessee football: Vols top 5 needs to fill National Signing Day 2019

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

1. Inside linebacker

When it comes to positions that need a ton of help for the future, inside linebacker is as crucial as any. Tennessee football was okay at the position last year with Quart’e Sapp, Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Daniel Bituli.

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    • However, Sapp has transferred, and Bituli and Kirkland are going to be seniors this year. The only other player the Vols have with any significant experience playing in Jeremy Pruitt’s system at inside linebacker is Will Ignont. Shanon Reid and JJ Peterson are on the roster as well and have practiced in the system.

    Pruitt needed more, though, and all he has so far is four-star athlete Quavaris Crouch. But outside of offensive line, linebacker has been his top target, and the Vols have not been able to secure anybody else.

    Four-star Lakia Henry decommitting was a huge issue, and it forced Pruitt to make a late play for Chris Russell, a three-star Dyserburg, Tenn. prospect. Unfortunately, the Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks both are in stronger standing with him.

    The Vols’ other top target is four-star linebacker Henry To’oto’o out of Northern California. They were making great headway with him, but last weekend, it looks like the Alabama Crimson Tide moved back into the lead.

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    So Tennessee football is now most desperate at linebacker and struggling to find the one more commitment it needs. That’s what makes it the biggest need on the list, and given the state of recruiting, it’s a concern for National Signing Day. We’ll see what happens, but Pruitt desperately needs a surprise commitment from one of those two targets to shore up his team for the future.

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