All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Top five 2021 signees who could play early

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Gordo’s Corbett McCrackin (7) sticks his hand up to block Handley’s Dylan Brooks (26). The Gordo Green Wave fell to the Handley Tigers 35-20 in the AHSAA Class 4A state championship game on Dec. 4, 2020 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. [Photo/Hannah Saad]Tus Al Gordovshandley4achampionship 12439
Gordo’s Corbett McCrackin (7) sticks his hand up to block Handley’s Dylan Brooks (26). The Gordo Green Wave fell to the Handley Tigers 35-20 in the AHSAA Class 4A state championship game on Dec. 4, 2020 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. [Photo/Hannah Saad]Tus Al Gordovshandley4achampionship 12439 /

Scouting Report. Edge rusher. Dylan Brooks. player. 839. Pick Analysis. Roanoke, Ala.. 2

Handley High School

To be fair, we don’t know how things will shake out. Based on his Twitter feed, he clearly committed to Jeremy Pruitt and may be one of those guys stuck in the program after signing before Pruitt was fired. That’s one of the reasons the Vols were able to keep a top 20 class.

More from Vols Football

However, if Brooks buys into the new system, he could be an elite player for Tennessee football right off the bat. The 6’5″ weakside defensive end weighs somewhere between 225 and 255 pounds. Depending on the system that is run, he could play up on the line in a 4-3 or 4-2-5, or he could move to outside linebacker in a 3-4. Regardless, though, he has a chance to be elite.

Two edge rushers have transferred this past offseason. Kivon Bennett was dismissed from the team. Deandre Johnson decided to join the Miami Hurricanes. That leaves a major opening here, and Brooks, who is a four-star across all services out of Alabama could be the guy to fill that opening. He and Tyler Baron could be the early guys to help build Heupel’s program.

Vols' Signing Day surprisingly encouraging: Five storylines. light. Related Story

There aren’t many other commitments at the position with this rating. If Markaviest “Big Kat” Bryant, the Auburn Tigers transfer, stays with the program, that will change things a bit. It doesn’t seem likely at this point, though, which gives Brooks a great chance to shine early.

Home/Vols Football