1. Georgia: 28
Who is surprised by this? We don’t have to name particularly the contributors or scholarship players. Georgia is a clear leader in contributing talent to Tennessee football from outside the state with nearly 30 players, and nobody else is even close. The recent transfer of all-purpose back Lyn-J Dixon just adds to this.
All three returning starters in the secondary this year hail from the state in Trevon Flowers, Jaylen McCollough and Warren Burrell. In fact, those three all have up to two full years of starting experience each. The importance they bring to the secondary alone puts them on this list.
However, then you have returning starter Aaron Beasley hailing from the state. Taking that into account, the defense is set with talent from Georgia. Projected contributors, though, inflate this state even more, and similar to Dixon, plenty of players fit that mold.
UT’s potential No. 2 wideout could be Ramel Keyton, who hails from the state. Solon Page III is a contributor at linebacker from the state. Roman Harrison is a contributor at edge rusher. These are just returning players who have already contributed to the program and are looking to see their roles increase, so the state clearly has a lot of key players.
Given its proximity and its talent, Georgia is always key for Tennessee football. Jamal Lewis, Cosey Coleman and Deon Grant came from there in one recruiting class, and the team won a national title a year later. It’s basically an in-state school for the Vols, and that hasn’t changed this year.