Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2021 OL class

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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Tennessee football
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Commitments

Colby Smith

  • Ratings: Three-star (Unanimous)
  • Size: 6’7″ 285 pounds
  • Hometown: Wentworth, N.C.
  • High School: Rockingham County

Yes, as of right now, Colby Smith is Tennessee football’s only commitment. Smith committed to UT back on May 4. He has, to be fair, helped the Vols continue their pipeline into North Carolina, but he doesn’t bring a ton of hype with him. The best part about his profile is his size at 6’7″. If he can put on some muscle and maintain a level of agility, he could be an undervalued.

Top prospects

Amarius Mims

  • Ratings: Five-star (Rivals, 247Sports); Four-star (ESPN)
  • Size: 6’7″ 300 pounds
  • Hometown: Cochran, Ga.
  • High School: Bleckley County

One of the top prospects the Vols are pursuing, Amarius Mims is an elite Georgia player. He will announce his decision Aug. 15, and UT did make his top 10 back in April. However, landing him will be an uphill climb, as the UGA Bulldogs are a unanimous favorite to land him on the Rivals Future Cast and the 247Sports Crystal Ball. They are a majority favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast.

Geno VanDeMark

  • Ratings: Four-star (Unanimous)
  • Size: 6’5″ 305 pounds
  • Hometown: Montvale, N.J.
  • High School: St. Joseph’s

Jarrett Guarantano coming out of Lodi, N.J., gives Tennessee football a pipeline into New Jersey towns outside of New York. UT did make VanDeMark’s top six. However, again, another team is a unanimous favorite to land him on the Rivals Future Cast and 247Sports Crystal Ball and a majority favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Delfin Castillo

  • Ratings: Three-star (Unanimous)
  • Size: 6’5″ 340 pounds
  • Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
  • High School: St. Frances

In addition to pipelines into Georgia and New Jersey, the Vols have one into St. Frances academy in Baltimore with a commitment in 2020 and two in 2021. UT made Delfin Castillo’s top six, and there are no predictions on the 247Sports Crystal Ball or Rivals Future Cast. The Pittsburgh Panthers are a majority favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast, but the Vols are clearly in play.

William Griffin-Parker

  • Ratings: Three-star (Unanimous)
  • Size: 6’5″ 310 pounds
  • Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
  • High School: Pearl-Cohn

Going back to some in-state talent, Rocky Top is in the top six for Nashville prospect William Griffin-Parker. Again, there are no favorites to land him on the Rivals Future Cast or the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but Jeremy Pruitt’s program is a majority favorite to land him on the Rivals Fan Future Cast, so the Vols should keep pursuing him.