james blackstrain held tennessee in high regard long before he visited the vols on friday for the first time. When the class of 2021 wide receiver from holy trinity episcopal academy in melbourne, fla., received a scholarship offer from tennessee last month, he called it his dream school. and he said the vols are at the top of my list following his first trip to knoxville. when we toured the school, it was very, very nice and the facilities were great, said blackstrain, who holds early offers from kentucky, north carolina and middle tennessee in addition to the vols. the stadium was huge, and i liked the environment.
blackstrain said fridays visit to tennessee met my expectations, and he might visit again soon, perhaps as early as this summer. i liked the stadium the most, he said, referring to the vols neyland stadium. "it was surprising in person. during the visit, blackstrain spoke with new vols wide receivers coach david johnson and offensive graduate assistant cameron clemmons.
it was my first time talking to them in person, but i talked to them over the phone, blackstrain said. they said they know theyre starting (with me) early, but they just wanted to build a relationship with me. (they like) my hands and my wingspan and my catching radius. Im still growing because im very young. Im big right now, but im going to get bigger.
blackstrain said he enjoyed talking with johnson better known to many players and recruits by his nickname, coach yac, which refers to yards after catch during his stay at tennessee. he was just telling me to keep on working and keep getting better, blackstrain said of johnson.
The vols new strength and conditioning coach, craig fitzgerald, was among the other members of new tennessee head coach jeremy pruitts staff who spoke with blackstrain on friday while he was in knoxville. i met the strength coach. I liked it, blackstrain said. "it was a good workout he was giving out today. He showed me a couple of the workouts they did.
blackstrain said he started as a freshman last season at holy trinity episcopal, catching 27 passes for 555 yards an average of 20.6 yards per reception along with seven touchdowns. The recruiting process is just getting started for blackstrain, who picked up his latest offer last week from north carolina, and he said hes in no hurry to decide on a school. He said he really doesnt know yet when he might make his choice.
