After getting one of his first scholarship offers from Tennessee more than two months ago, Tae Provens visited the Vols for the first time to participate in their final camp of the summer.
Hes already planning to make the trip again.
The three-star junior running back from Madison County High School in Gurley, Ala., said Tennessee is one of four schools standing out to him following his first visit with the Vols, and hes hoping to attend at least one of their home games this season.
It went good. I enjoyed it a lot, said Provens, whos ranked as the nations No. 296 overall prospect and No. 19 running back in the 2018 class. They would be in my top (group), as of right now.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Provens said Auburn, Southern California and Oklahoma State are the other teams standing out to him among his eight early offers.
Provens said he had been planning to go up there to take a firsthand look at Tennessee after staying in contact with Vols running backs coach Robert Gillespie in recent months, and they made a strong first impression on him during his recent trip to Knoxville.
He said he was particularly impressed by Gillespie, who talked extensively with him and worked with him on the field during the camp.
The highlight of the visit for me would be Coach G. I really had a good time with him, Provens said. I knew he was going to be funny, but it was like I was talking to my dad or something like that. Hes funny.
Its just one of those connections you get with somebody, and you just click right off the bat.
He was real straight-up (during the camp) no hands on your hips, no nothing like that. Dont show your opponent that youre tired. He was just straight-up.
Gillespie apparently liked what he saw from Provens, too.
He said I did good, said Provens, who claims to have been timed at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He said (he liked) the speed, and he could do different things with me, like get me in the open or maybe a jet sweep or something like that.
Provens also met with Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and offensive graduate assistant Cameron Clemmons while he was on campus, and he said the Vols coaches are among the things he likes most about them.
They have a really good coaching staff there, Provens said.
He was almost as impressed by some of Tennessees facilities in particular, the barber shop located inside the Anderson Training Center.
Ive never seen a college have a barber shop. That was really unique, to have a barber shop on campus, Provens said.
Auburn was the team he liked growing up, but he also has some family ties to Tennessee.
My moms from Knoxville. She grew up there, Provens said. She likes Tennessee a lot. (But) wherever I want to go, she would just follow.
While Provens doesn't have an official leader among the eight schools pursuing him, he added, If I had to say, itd be Auburn. He said he already has visited the Tigers a handful of times, including twice this summer, and hes planning to attend their season opener Sept. 3 against Clemson.
Whenever you go down there, its just a family environment, he said of Auburn.
With all eight of Provens offers having arrived within the past three months, he said hes currently taking his time with the recruiting process. He said hes still drawing interest from other teams, including Alabama, and he doesnt plan to decide on a school until next summer, going into my senior year.
Im not planning (on deciding) any time soon, he said. Im just focused on my team right now.
R Callahan
