'25 GA LB Jadon Perlotte (Tennessee)

#902
#902
Josh Heupel and the Vols staff started laying the ground work early in the spring when Perlotte was still committed to Georgia. They did so before ever getting Jadon on campus, but they were able to make the most of getting the rest of his family to Knoxville during their spring travels.

“Our first time meeting Coach Heupel, we were going to Gatlinburg with our daughters to play basketball, and they were having spring practice,” Kenny Perlotte told Volquest of what made Tennessee right for the family. “Jadon was in the Dominican Republic at the time on Spring break, but Coach Heupel, Coach Inge, and Coach O’Rourke were like, ‘y’all come on through.’ When we got there, it was one of those things where we felt right at home. When practice was over, we knew he needed to go in and talk to him, but he came over and spent about 30 minutes talking to us. Jadon’s mom was like, ‘I really like him’ because he didn’t have to do that, and that got the wheels rolling a little bit with us coming and feeling at home. Of course, at the time, Jadon was still committed to Georgia, and we thought that was going to be home. But the feeling was just different when we got to Tennessee. They made him and us just feel really wanted.”

In the summer, Perlotte got close to flipping from Georgia to Tennessee, but after a visit to USC, he opted for Lincoln Riley’s program. Tennessee never stopped their pursuit, and this consistency and those long-standing relationships paid dividends for the Vols down the stretch.

“Coach Inge is a very smart coach,” Jadon said of this. “I feel like his mind and my mind are close to the same, and the scheme Tennessee runs is very close to Buford’s. I think it will allow me to fit in perfectly. Coach Heupel, that is my guy. He is a really good coach. I love him and he loves me.”

That consistency and effort by the Vols was not lost on the Perlotte parents either.

“Just a super great job of recruiting not only the athlete but our family,” the elder Perlotte said of Tennessee’s consistency. “Coach Inge would call us daily. Coach (Danny) O’Rourke, I can’t leave him out because he is the one who really started this. His sister is a teacher at Buford, and he did awesome getting there and making us feel at home. Coach Inge is just Coach Inge. He is like a father figure. He and I hit it off really. Coach Heupel just putting the icing on the cake because he will call and text. They showed a lot of love not only to Jadon but also to my entire family and my two daughters. Every time they called, they would ask how basketball was going for them. It meant a lot to us.”

For Jadon, he is accustomed to making plays and playing winning football at Buford. What Tennessee has established defensively and at the linebacker position was also key in the final parts of making the decision to flip his commitment.

“I definitely bring a lot of stuff to the table,” the four-star prospect said. “I am a versatile athlete. I can rush. I can play inside or outside. I can play corner (over the slot) or wherever you need me.”

For the Perlotte family, as they entered the home stretch of the recruiting process, the football fit on Rocky Top was something they impressed upon their son.

“So important,” Kenny Perlotte said of the importance of the football fit at Tennessee. “Jadon can do a lot of things on the field. He can play inside the box or be a space guy. Talking with Coach Banks, he will be flexible for them, and I just think Coach Inge and Coach Banks can get him to a level that I have never seen him play at, and I have seen him play at a pretty high level. I know there is more to tap inside of him, and I think those guys can get it out of him with the way they can use him. Once he gets there and gets his feet wet and learns the system and puts on the size it is going to take to play in the SEC, he is going to be a really good football player for the University of Tennessee.”

“Along with the other linebackers in the class, I think they just put together a really strong class of linebackers that are long and athletic and can get to the football and make a ton of plays. We are from Buford and we believe in defense and adding Jadon to the mix of linebackers they already have is going to be phenomenal. Tennessee football is peaking at a really good level, but it is about to go to a different level. I know I heard Danny White say something about it before, and he is absolutely right. That was one of our pushes to Jadon, was you might really need to sit down and think about going to Tennessee. Not only are they some good Christian men, but they are some good football coaches, too. I know they can get the best out of him because he looks up to them and loves them to death. When he first committed to USC, and even up to the past couple of days, he would ask me, ‘do you think I should commit to Tennessee.’ I would always tell him, ‘yeah, I do.'”

Now, Perlotte will conclude his career at Buford over the next two weeks as they look to win a state title in the 6A classification, and following that, he will focus on his next journey, which is to Rocky Top.
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- VQ
 
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#905
#905
When you hear of secret visits, you don't usually think about them happening early in the cycle. Well, if you read Jadon Perlotte's commitment story, you will notice his dad talks about the family coming through campus in the spring while Jadon was on spring break. This visit led to another secret visit, which featured Jadon this time before he took his official visit to Knoxville later in the summer.
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Perlotte left the June official visit silently committed to the Vols, but USC made a splash during his visit there in July and managed to flip him from Georgia. Tennessee played the long game and snuck him back into town for the Kentucky game. The Perlotte's quietly went back to USC this past weekend before signing day, but they could not find the same feeling they continued to find in Knoxville, which led to the Vols winning out.
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-VQ
 
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#911
#911
MemphisVol3 said:
Yeah Inge looks to be an upgrade from Jean-Mary.
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I’ve been very happy with the play of out LBs this year. They have been out of position some at the start of the game but after adjustments they’ve been really consistent all year. And oh yeah…recruiting has been pretty good too. I guess this Inge guy can stick around.
 
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#914
#914
Coach Inge has been outstanding IMO. I never played college ball, but I played through HS. Watching live and on film, our LB play has been imprived this season even with what could have been terrible...losing our most experienced LB and room leader in Pili very early. That was a huge challenge to the room for them to lose the leader, the guy with the Mic in his helmet that gets everyone else lined up every play, right out of the gate. Really sad for Pili. All that group did was respond by playing even better than last season and being a big part of the best defense in the SEC and #4 nationally.

It was easy to see from Coach Inge 1st press conference that he was very smart, and a teacher at heart. He spoke about having the privelege to shape and teach young men. All his answers were about them...not himself. Clearly he is a very good coach, and an outstanding recruiter to be able to land the best LB group for 25 that we have landed in at least 20 years. This is a "bumper crop" at LB. These 4 dudes can be a force to be reckoned with for the next 3 or 4 years. They will make eachother better...iron sharpens iron.

GO VOLS. BELIEVE 2024
 
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#925
#925
VFL02 said:
Perlotte is really fast, and he’s at least 6’3. Don’t get the size concerns. Moved really well last night. Had a TFL and a forced fumble when I was watching. He’s always around the hall. Definitely needs to add some weight
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Not a problem
 
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