By: JC Nevils
The early signing period is finally here and most prospects if not all,
have signed their letters of intent. Some are even on campus right
now going through bowl practices, and others will soon be there for
spring ball. Every staff and fan base think they have the
best recruiting class, but there are certain players in each one who have the
potential to make an impact early. Here we take a look at the
Volunteers 2024 class to determine just that.
1. CB Kaleb Beasley
Lipscomb Academy HS (Nashville, TN)
The standout from the mid-state was a huge commitment
when he first chose to stay home. As a top-five player in the state
along with being top 15 at his position in the nation, he possesses
great size to go along with elite ball skills. He was also a finalist for Tennessee’s Mr. Football award. He will enroll early and
be on campus in January, and he also has a great chance to be in the two-deep with a thin secondary coming back.
2. ATH Boo Carter,
Bradley Central HS (Cleveland, TN)
Heralded as the top prospect in the state by some services,
Carter is as elite as they come. Not only does he make plays on defense
where they plan to start him out, but he also is electrifying on the
offensive side of the ball as well as special teams. It came down to
Michigan along with the Vols when he first committed, but he
decided to stay home. There were also rumblings about a flip to
Colorado at the last hour, but that turned out to be nothing. To put it simply, Carter
has a very good shot to be in the DB rotation, specifically safety, if
not start. Yes, he is that good.
3. WR Braylon Staley
Strom Thurmond HS (Johnston, SC)
It’s starting to become a trend with Tennessee going into
South Carolina’s backyard and stealing top-notch talent. They did
back in 2020 when they signed Jalin Hyatt, who went on to win the
Biletnikoff as the nation’s best wide receiver in 2022 and is now starring in the NFL.
Now this time it’s Braylon Staley who looks to follow in this same
footsteps. He is a technician when running routes along with having
great speed and toughness. He is already on campus going through
bowl practices, and I fully expect to hear his name this season.
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4. WR Mike Matthews
Parkview HS (Lilburn, GA)
Matthews comes in as the lone five-star in the class, and you
can most certainly see why. Not only has he started for a team in the
hotbed of Georgia in 7A since a sophomore, he has excelled. He
started both ways at wide receiver along with safety, but his main position is
wide receiver. All he did his senior year was put a stamp on his career as one
of the best wide receivers in Georgia state history. He has good size with
impeccable ball skills to go along with the wiggle to take it the
distance. He also can line up inside at the slot or outside. He is currently on campus going through bowl practices, and I certainly believe
he will make plenty of plays this upcoming season.
This sequence of plays by Mike Matthews
He finished with 3 receptions for 70 yards in Parkview’s 43-24 win pic.twitter.com/HSRb4hl6j6
— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) August 17, 2023
5. CB Jermod McCoy
Oregon State/Whitehouse HS (Whitehouse, TX)
While McCoy is a transfer from Oregon State, he might as
well be an honorary high school recruit. Not only can he play ball at a
very high level, but he will only be a sophomore next year, which
means that gives him three years left to play. Coming out of
Whitehouse high school in Texas he was largely looked over by
many schools, so he chose to go out west to Corvallis.
Well this past season he made a name for himself as he became a
True Freshman All-American, and someone to be reckoned with. With
their head coach leaving for Michigan State, that gave him a chance
to test the waters, and he ended up choosing the Vols over the home
state team in Texas A&M. I fully expect him to be a plug-and-play
player. Vol nation should be very excited.
