All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 15: Tennessee Volunteers live mascot Smokey X preparing to lead the team out during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 15: Tennessee Volunteers live mascot Smokey X preparing to lead the team out during the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Biggest takeaway: No big surprises

In spite of the walk-ons and nobody committing, Tennessee football had no big surprises on National Signing Day. The biggest one may have been nobody getting a commitment from Giovanni Davis, as the Vols seemed like the heavy favorite to land him.

Still, UT entered the day with 21 commitments and 20 signees, and they left with 21 signees. Nothing unexpected good or bad happened to them. The walk-ons may have been the positive surprise to outweigh Davis, particularly Shannon Blair’s commitment, but once again, that wasn’t a big surprise given what had already happened.

Most of the splash news happened during the Early Signing Period, and that was the case for Rocky Top more than it was for other programs. UT came in with a top 25 class and a top 20 class across most services, and they walked out with one. None of the services moved them more than two spots.

Next. 10 greatest single seasons by Vols players of all time. dark

Of course, this doesn’t mean Heupel’s done putting together his 2022 roster. Tennessee football still has multiple scholarships available, and the Vols will likely add more talent via the transfer portal going forward. With the way that, early signing and NIL deals have changed the sport, National Signing Day clearly isn’t what it used to be.

Home/Vols Football