Tennessee football makes cut for in-state 2023 LB Nathan Robinson
Most of the 2022 recruiting class is locked up, and Tennessee football is beginning to trend for lots of 2023 prospects. Josh Heupel has a focus on in-state players in that class, and on Tuesday, the Vols began trending for a Nashville-area front-seven defender.
Nathan Robinson, a three-star across the board, has the Vols in his top three. Coming out of Greenbrier High School in Robertson County, Tenn., Robinson stands between 6’5″ and 6’6″ and weighs in the range of 248 to 262 pounds.
Given his range, Robinson has a wide variety of positions he could play. He is listed as an inside linebacker on Rivals and a defensive lineman on 247Sports and On3. Joining Tennessee football on Robinson’s list are the Kentucky Wildcats and Ole Miss Rebels. The schools were announced Tuesday evening on Twitter.
#AFTG Blessed to be in this position! #GBO #HottyToddy #BBN pic.twitter.com/JMvqzGVBLm
— Nathan Robinson (@Nathan_R_19) February 1, 2022
Regardless of the position Robinson would end up playing on Rocky Top, he’d be a perfect fit for what Tim Banks needs. It’s no secret that linebacker is an issue for the Vols, and that’ll remain true past this year, especially with Juwan Mitchell and Solon Page III certain to be gone by 2023.
On the other hand, the departure of Caleb Tremblay leaves a need this year for hybrid defensive linemen who can play tackle or end, and if he puts on weight, Robinson could fill that void. By next year, Banks and Rodney Garner would want to build up the depth at that position.
There are currently no front seven players committed in the Vols’ 2023 class, so Robinson would be a huge pickup for them. After losing three defensive linemen from this past year and two more who could leave this year but will certainly be gone by next year, Heupel has a lot of work to do to shore up the depth there.
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No predictions have been made for Robinson on the Rivals Future Cast or the 247Sports Crystal Ball. Tennessee football is the favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast, but On3 has Ole Miss as the favorite and Kentucky as the second favorite. As a result, the Vols have some work to do to keep this guy in-state.