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Tennessee football: What went right and what went wrong on National Signing Day 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

What went right No. 1: Jayson Jenkins signs

If you aren’t going to flip anybody or add any new commitments, at least you can keep your own commitments. That’s exactly what Tennessee football was able to do when it signed Jayson Jenkins Wednesday morning. The three-star defensive lineman out of New Jersey committed over the weekend and affirmed his move with that signing.

Heading into the day, the Vols had 20 signees and 21 commitments. Jenkins was the only question, and there was always the possibility that he could flip elsewhere. Heck, the Vols flipped Tyre West during the Early Signing Period, so those things are possible.

Jenkins signing addressed a huge need for Rocky Top. As mentioned when he committed, the product of Trenton, N.J. who attends Notre Dame High School, which is still in Mercer County but is over in the Lawrenceville Community of Lawrence Township, could fill the void that Caleb Tremblay leaves as the versatile defensive lineman who plays anywhere up front.

Listed as a strongside defensive end/defensive tackle hybrid, Jenkins stands between 6’5″ and 6’6″ and weighing in the range of 250 to 260 pounds. He could immediately play a crucial role up front, and his addition does a lot for the Vols going forward. Losing him would have been tougher to swallow than it seems.

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