Five strongest outside states for Tennessee football in 2020
1. Georgia: 28 players (7 walk-ons, 4 newcomers)
Key names: Wanya Morris, Aubrey Solomon
At this point, Tennessee football is relying on Georgia talent as much as in-state talent. The Vols were famous for doing that during Phillip Fulmer’s best days with guys like Jamal Lewis, Deon Grant and Cosey Coleman. Jeremy Pruitt is now trying to replicate that, and he has connections there after two years as the Georgia Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015.
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Left tackle Wanya Morris of Savannah, Ga. was a freshman All-American last year and will start again this year. Aubrey Solomon of Leesburg, Ga. was the most consistent starter at defensive tackle last year and will be the main guy again in the middle as a senior. Ja’Quain Blakely of Moultrie, Ga. found himself as a defensive end and will be a rotational guy there his senior year.
Jaylen McCullough out of Austell, Ga. made a name for himself as a freshman when he became a starting safety after a season-ending injury to Trevon Flowers, who is from Atlanta and returns for his junior campaign looking to make an impact once again. Speaking of returning, nickel Baylen Buchanan of Lawrenceville, Ga. is back for his senior year after having spinal surgery in 2019.
Wide receiver Ramel Keyton of Marietta, Ga., defensive lineman Kurrott Garland of Conyers, Ga., defensive back Warren Burrell of Suwanee, Ga., and linebackers J.J. Peterson of Moultrie, Ga., Roman Harrison of Bainbridge, Ga. and Aaron Beasley of Franklin, Ga. will be sophomores who had experience playing as freshman. That creates lots of hype behind them.
Defensive end John Mincey of Homerville, Ga. and linebacker Solon Page III of Atlanta will be juniors with such experience. Bulldogs transfer Deangelo Gibbs of Oxford, Ga. has his waiver lifted, so he can play at receiver as a junior in 2020. Tight ends Jackson Lowe of Cartersville, Ga. and Sean Brown of Rome, Ga. both redshirted as freshmen as well, so they add to the roster this year.
Finally, there are the newcomers. Five-star Harrison Bailey of Marietta, Ga. was an early enrollee and headlined the 2020 recruiting class. Defensive back Doneiko Slaughter of Roswell, Ga. and wide receiver Jimmy Calloway of Morrow, Ga. are both four-stars, and athlete Len’Neth Whitehead of Athens, Ga. is a three-star.
Next. Vols' all-time depth chart under Johnny Majors. dark
In 2019, Georgia led all states with nine members joining Tennessee football’s 23-man recruiting class that year. It came in second in 2018 and 2020, only to Tennessee itself. As a result, the Vols clearly are building around that state, and it shows here.