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Tennessee football lands speedy Alabama WR Marquarius White for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: A Tennessee Volunteers megaphone sits on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: A Tennessee Volunteers megaphone sits on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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Speed is a crucial part of Josh Heupel’s offensive system when it comes to the passing game, and that is obviously going to be a focus for him on the recruiting trail. A new Tennessee football commitment from Alabama goes a long way towards helping out with that.

Wide receiver Marquarius White out of Pinson, Ala., which is just outside of Birmingham and still in Jefferson County, has now committed to the Vols. A three-star across the board, White has clocked in a 4.37 40-time, according to a report on WATE.

Coming out of Clay-Chalkville High School, White is the Vols’ ninth commitment for 2021 and their third within the past week. Standing between 5’10” and 5’11” and weighing between 155 and 165 pounds, he is the first wide receiver in the class and the first out of Alabama.  White announced his commitment to Tennessee football with a video Thursday afternoon on Twitter.

Obviously, that 40-time is a huge deal. A player with that type of speed at White’s age is incredibly impressive. Sure, he is undersized and needs to put on some muscle, but if he can do that while maintaining his speed, he’ll be a perfect fit for Heupel’s system.

Right now, most of the Vols’ options at receivers are wideouts, albeit often undersized wideouts. White could add a slot element to the game, particularly with Velus Jones Jr. set to be gone after the 2021 season.

Jalin Hyatt, Jimmy Calloway and Jimmy Holiday are all guys who could also play in the slot, but White brings a speed element that not all of them will bring. That could make him valuable in his own right. Here’s a look at his highlight reel.

As you can see, while White’s breakaway speed does stand out, he’s got an impressive ability to go up and win 50-50 balls despite his size. His vertical and hands are just as valuable as his speed, and his speed is not a mirage, as he’s playing in a football-rich area.

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Honestly, outside of his size, it’s hard to see any issue with White. There aren’t many weaknesses in his game, and Tennessee football appears to have gotten a steal. Heupel could work wonders with White, so watch out for what he does on the field next year.

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