2022 proved to be a magical season for the Volunteers, as they finished the year with an 11-2 record and an Orange Bowl championship. Although Tennessee looks to be ahead of schedule in their rebuild, their game against Georgia showed that they still have ways to go if they want to be on top. With Georgia looking like the next great dynasty in college football, Tennessee needs to vastly improve in recruiting if they want to keep pace with the champs.
Here are 5 recruits the Vols need to land if they want to close the talent gap against Georgia.
1. Edwin Spillman
Linebacker
Nashville, TN (Lipscomb Academy)
Locking down your state may be the most important aspect of recruiting and landing Edwin Spillman would be a big step in the right direction. Rated as the number one player in Tennessee, Spillman possesses the ability to fly around the field and make plays. The 6’1″, 220 lb. Spillman plays a very physical brand of football, which would be a big help to a defense that got pushed around by the Dawgs last season.
2. Ryan Wingo
Wide Receiver
St. Louis, MO (St. Louis University)
If you want to have a chance at dethroning the champs, you better have some elite talent at the receiver position. The Vols would get that in Ryan Wingo who can not only run past you but jump over you as well. At 6’2″, 205 lbs. with a strong track and field background, Wingo is the perfect combination of size, speed and athleticism. He can line up both inside and out making him a nightmare matchup for opposing teams.
https://twitter.com/SartiranaLuca/status/1581307174009344002
3. Jordan Marshall
Running Back
Cincinnati, OH (Archbishop Moeller)
Maybe the most important and overlooked aspect to Tennessee’s offense is their run game. This was very apparent last year when the Dawgs shut them down on the ground, causing that offense to sputter. Landing a physical back like Jordan Marshall could help take that offense to the next level. At 5’11” and 190 lbs., Marshall is a tough runner who rarely goes down on first contact. He possesses a good combination of vision and burst to find running lanes and explode through them.
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4. Daniel Calhoun
Offensive Tackle
Roswell, GA (Walton)
Georgia’s defensive line will always have elite talent as long as Kirby Smart is alive and breathing. If you want to keep your QB clean against the Dawgs, you better have the big boys up front to do so. It doesn’t get much bigger than Daniel Calhoun who uses his size to bully smaller defenders in the run and pass. He has the ability to release from the line of scrimmage and get up field making space for the run game.
https://twitter.com/MattDeBary/status/1578537102009982976
5. Kamarion Franklin
Defensive Line
Lake Cormorant, MS (Lake Cormorant)
The Vols didn’t get to Stetson Bennett one time in their matchup last season, which has to change if they want to be more competitive. Kamrion Franklin has all the tools that could make him an elite pass rusher at the next level. At 6’4 240, Franklin looks like a man against boys on film. However, Franklin is much more than a big body. He does a great job at using his length and fighting with his hands to get off blocks and get to the quarterback.
https://twitter.com/KamarionFrankl1/status/1592517691293978624
