All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Five prospects to watch on 2022 National Signing Day

By Caleb Calhoun

Oak Ridge's Kendall Jackson (1) dances to the music during warm ups before a football game between Powell and Oak Ridge at Powell High School in Powell, Tennessee on Thursday, October 24, 2019.Kns Powell Or 1024
Oak Ridge's Kendall Jackson (1) dances to the music during warm ups before a football game between Powell and Oak Ridge at Powell High School in Powell, Tennessee on Thursday, October 24, 2019.Kns Powell Or 1024 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Although most of their work was done during the Early Signing Period, Tennessee football still enters National Signing Day with a few loose ends to tie up. Defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins, who committed over the weekend, still needs to sign, and the Vols also still have a few scholarships available that Josh Heupel could fill.

Obviously, some will open up via the transfer portal, and that portal is where Heupel could add more talent. When you combine that with Early Signing Period, it’s clear that National Signing Day has dramatically lost its luster compared to what it used to be.

However, there are still prospects out there who could fill those open scholarships. Let’s break all of them down here and what they would mean to the Vols if they committed. These are the top five National Signing Day prospects Tennessee football has a realistic chance of picking up to watch out for.

5. Will Whiston

Defensive lineman; 6’5″ 265 pounds

Starting with the junior college route, Will Whiston would fill the void of the versatile defensive lineman who can play inside or outside that Caleb Tremblay leaves. Recent commitment Jenkins fills that void too, but Tim Banks and Rodney Garner likely want multiple players like that up front, especially one with experience.

A three-star on 247Sports JuCo, Whiston comes out of Independence Community College in Kansas.. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Whiston will have three years of eligibility wherever he goes. Him landing on Rocky Top would be a huge get for Heupel and his staff.

Last year, playing up on the line, Whiston had six sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and 29 total tackles, 20 of which were solo. Simply put, he was a rare playmaker given his role, and he’s flying under the radar right now. As a result, he’d be a great addition to Tennessee football, so keep an eye on him.

Home/Vols Football