Tennessee football: Five strongest outside states contributing to 2022 Vols’ roster

3. North Carolina: 5

Yes, both Carolinas are on this list. Like South Carolina, North Carolina has three scholarship players. The state has fewer projected contributors, though. It’s two walk-ons are Mekhi Bigelow and Navy Shuler, who will be a backup linebacker and quarterback respectively this year. James Pearce Jr. is a freshman edge rusher who is part of the future but won’t play much in 2022.

That leaves two backfield players for Tennessee football making this list. Despite one less projected contributor, one of the contributors counts for double. We’re obviously talking about Hendon Hooker, the dark-horse Heisman candidate and starting quarterback for the Vols. His presence as a guy from North Carolina pushes this state up the list.

Joining Hooker is Jaylen Wright, and although he won’t be a starter at running back, he’ll certainly be a contributor. Even with the arrival of transfer Lyn-J Dixon, Wright is still the primary all-purpose back, so Hooker isn’t pushing this state into the No. 3 spot by himself.

Before moving past the three-scholarship states, Mississippi also has three scholarship players in Brandon Turnage, Da’Jon Terry and Jimmy Holiday. Also, Turnage is a projected starter, Terry is a projected contributor and Holiday is a projected return specialist. However, they had no more players, and raw numbers have to count, so Alabama beat them just barely.