Here's a list of the ones I can think of:
Todd Kelly Jr. Probably going to be a five-star safety who goes to school at Webb School in Knoxville. He already has offers from, well, everybody -- Florida, Florida State, Alabama, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, so on and so on. It seems it's a UT-Bama battle early. Hopefully, we can keep him home.
Dillon Bates. He's visited Knoxville twice already. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker is the son of UT legend Bill Bates, and he's already talked to some about breaking his dad's records in Knoxville. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., product is also currently high on Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma. It would be huge to get an early commit from him at a major position of need.
Evan Berry. James Berry's son. Eric Berry's brother. The 5-11, 195-pound cornerback is a major need for the Vols and will likely wind up a high three-star/low four-star player. He has great instincts and really would be a big early get for UT. Also holds offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and South Carolina, among others.
Elliot Berry. James Berry's son. Eric Berry's brother. He's 5-11, 190 but yet has the frame to grow from a safety into a linebacker. Either way, he's a player the Vols would love to have. Berry seems high on LSU, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. He was big on Auburn before Trooper left. Vols want both brothers.
Neiko Creamer. The son of Andre Creamer, who played for the Vols in the early '80s, has a UT offer and has the Vols way out front currently. He's a big, physical receiver [6-4, 220] from Bear, Delaware. If UT hits on him, it may be one of just 2-3 receivers they take in this cycle.
Blaise Taylor. Given his messy departure from UT and the fact that he beat the Vols for several recruits over the years, it may be difficult for some fans to say Trooper Taylor is a former Vol. But he did coach at UT -- and his players loved him. Now, the Vols were the first SEC team last week to offer his son Blaise. Auburn -- where his father just got fired -- was second. Taylor is expected to come to Tennessee's junior day this weekend. The speedy athlete would be a big early pull with his daddy's connections. Hope we get him.
Vic Wharton. Independence High athlete is the nephew of former UT basketball standout Vic Wharton. He is Jones' first commitment in the 2014 class and has already hit the ground running in trying to help recruit this class of legacies and in-state kids. Chose UT over Ole Miss, Miss State, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, and Cincinnati among others.
Andrew Shofner. The 6-4, 280-pound offensive guard's granddaddy played for the General. He lives in Woodberry Forest, Va., and he'd love an offer from UT. He's one to watch, though he doesn't report any offers yet.
Isaiah McDaniel. The son of former UT player Terry McDaniel is a cornerback for Bearden who could get a look, though he hasn't gotten a firm Tennessee offer yet.
Cole Cook. The 6-6, 230-pound tight end already has an offer from the Vols. His mom [Kelly Casteel] played for Pat Summitt, and the family currently lives in Carrollton, Ga.
Cedric Wilson Jr. It's hard to believe Ced has a kid who is nearly ready for college, but the 6-2, 180-pound athlete who plays duel-threat quarterback for White Station may be an athlete option for several teams. He does not yet hold an offer.
Bailey Lenoir. Patrick Lenoir's son is a 6-4, 220-pound tight end from Chattanooga who already has visited Vanderbilt. He doesn't have any offers yet, but he's another legacy to keep an eye on.
BANNER YEAR IN-STATE
There are far too many solid players in the state of Tennessee to talk about them all here, but the bottom line is the Vols have to capitalize in its own backyard in 2014. None of the state's top five players signed with the Vols this year. That's unheard of and uncalled for. It absolutely cannot happen again.
Locking up the state begins with the Most Important Recruit In The Entire 2014 Class For Tennessee: Hendersonville (Beech) running back Jalen Hurd. He's a five-star back who grew up pulling for the Vols, yet we're way behind on his recruitment. While he likes Tennessee and the new staff, he currently has Florida and Ohio State at the top of his board. Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Tennessee look like the other teams in the race early for the 6-2, 210-pound star. He's a desperate need, and we absolutely have to get him.
247Sports analyst J.C. Shurburtt recently said he feels that the Vols have pulled themselves into an early favorite along with Florida, so we'll see. He's the biggest fish in the pond. Here are a few other players instate to look out for, and again, this is NOT a comprehensive list. Remember, we talked about some of the legacies -- who are instate -- above:
Alex Bars 6-6, 287 offensive tackle Montgomery Bell Academy. We need him bad. Unfortunately, his two brothers went to the Big Ten to play for Penn State and Michigan. He's got an early UT offer, and others such as Florida, Georgia Tech, Duke, Indiana and Kentucky have pulled the trigger as well. The Vols have made him an early priority though.
Josh Malone 6-2, 185 wide receiver Station Camp High. The Gallatin product was once believed to be a huge UT lean. He has cooled a bit on Tennessee but is still a major option. He'll be one of the most heavily recruited players instate and already has offers from Notre Dame, Florida, Ohio State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, South Florida and many others. The Vols need to recapture momentum here.
Emmanuel Smith 6-1, 200 safety Murfreesboro Oakland. The Vols love the frame and athleticism on this kid, and they extended him an offer this week, his first. Getting in on instate kids early is a big bonus, and Smith is the kind of prospect who will blow up eventually.
Derek Barnett 6-4, 260 strongside defensive end Brentwood Academy. Barnett is a major priority early for UT. The Vols like him as a defensive end and a tight end, and they've visited him multiple times since the new coaching staff came in. Duke, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State also have offered.
Petera Wilson 6-3, 220 inside linebacker White Station. One of the state's most intriguing players has already visited UT twice, but he has a bunch of suitors. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and others already have offered the athletic linebacker, and it's difficult to see where UT stands currently. Will it help that Jason Carr just came from White Station this year? Guess we'll see.
Akeem Cooperwood 6-6, 315 offensive tackle Knoxville Fulton. The Vols haven't offered yet, but Cooperwood has family ties to UT, and with the Vols' need for offensive linemen in this class, it wouldn't be out of the question to see an offer come soon for the big guy. He needs to improve his footwork and athleticism.
RaShaan Gaulden 6-1, 180 safety Independence High. Wharton's teammate holds offers from UT, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Duke, Mississippi State and others. Wharton has been trying to get him to join him at UT, but will it happen? How much are the Vols pushing for the Spring Hill product right now? It'll be an interesting development.
