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Tennessee football: Top 10 out-of-state 2022 prospects for Vols to pursue

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Given the wealth of in-state talent for 2022, new Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel has a great chance to live up to his commitment of shutting off the borders when it comes to recruiting. However, the Vols have always been at their best when they go national, and that shouldn’t change regardless of who is head coach.

As we get set to analyze the best out-of-state prospects for next year, we’ll place an emphasis on the positions of need. Another factor will be the Vols’ chances of landing a prospect. Prospects who left UT off a trimmed list or are heavily favored to land elsewhere won’t be on here. Location also matters. Border states and states with connections to the program come into play.

Then there are overall ratings. No player can have below a four-star rating on any service. Luckily for UT, there are plenty of elite prospects at the national level to target who fit this criteria. These are the top 10 out-of-state prospects for Tennessee football to pursue in 2022.

10. Cristian Driver

DB; Argyle, Texas

Yes, we’re going to Texas for the first prospect. Next year, the Vols are going to need to build depth at safety. Key Lawrence transferred this past offseason, Trevon Flowers and Theo Jackson are about to be a seniors and Jaylen McCollough will be a senior in 2022.

Simply put, they need help in that part of the secondary. Cristian Driver out of Liberty Christian High School could be the key. Listed as a safety, Driver is a four-star across the board. He may play in a small town, but his school competes in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, so he’s got plenty of experience competing with the top talent in the nation.

Standing between 6’0″ and 6’1″ while weighing somewhere between 170 and 180 pounds, Driver is one of those guys who could make an immediate impact. With new defensive coordinator Tim Banks specializing in safeties, Tennessee football may have a chance as well.

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