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Tennessee football makes cut for in-state 2023 OL Joe Crocker

By Caleb Calhoun

Joe Crocker, the three-star offensive lineman for Franklin Road Academy, is pictured here at the school's football field in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 8, 2021.Joe Crocker 03
Joe Crocker, the three-star offensive lineman for Franklin Road Academy, is pictured here at the school's football field in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 8, 2021.Joe Crocker 03 /
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Offensive line shouldn’t be a problem for Tennessee football next year with so many people coming back. However, in 2023, they will lose at least two of their potential 2022 starters, and they could lose up to four. Josh Heupel is looking inside the state to help offset those losses.

UT made the top 15 for Nashville, Tenn. offensive lineman Joe Crocker out of Franklin Road Academy. A four-star on Rivals but a three-star on On3, 247Sports and ESPN, the Davidson County prospect stands between 6’6″ and 6’7″ and weights between 310 and 320 pounds.

Joining Tennessee football on Crocker’s list are the Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, Louisville Cardinals, Virginia Tech Hokies, Virginia Cavaliers, Maryland Terrapins, Indiana Hoosiers, UCF Knights, Tulane Green Wave, TCU Horned Frogs and Eastern Kentucky Colonels. He announced the schools Monday on Twitter.

Despite being a three-star on most services, just having one four-star rating this early is a good sign for Crocker. He is listed as an offensive tackle across the board, and given his size, that makes sense. It also makes him a perfect fit for UT.

Darnell Wright will be a senior next year, and although he could come back in 2023 if he wants to, there’s a chance he performs at a high enough level that he doesn’t have to. Assuming K’Rojhn Calbert takes advantage of his extra year of eligibility and comes back, he won’t be there in 2023.

That means Dayne Davis could be the Vols’ only somewhat proven tackle in 2023. An in-state guy like Crocker could then immediately see action, especially with Maurice Clipper and Addison Nichols the only two tackles committed in the 2022 class.

Next. Five things for Vols to address before Signing Day. dark

Currently, there are no favorites to land Crocker on the 247Sports Crystal Ball or Rivals Future Cast. Tennessee football is the majority favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast and tied on On3 for the lead with five other schools: Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky and Tulane. As a result, they have a great chance to land him, and he’d be a great pickup.

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