2017 Recruiting Class

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2019 recruit:

 

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2018 recruit:

 

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Chuck Filiaga is actually coming in tomorrow and he won't be the only one on campus as Princeton Fant and Maleik Gray are expected on campus as well."

-Fortenberry

 

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The 6-foot-8, 250-pound offensive lineman from Ravenwood High School continues to pick up significant interest from major schools, most notably Tennessee, who has hosted him twice in the past month, including last week for a spring practice.

“They have a lot of energy. They like to do things big and that’s the attitude you need to have,” Leitten said of the Vols’ spring practice. “The coaches have a lot of attitude and passion and they have a lot of fun doing it.”

Leitten kept a close eye on offensive line coach Don Mahoney during the practice and liked what he observed.

“On the field he’s intense. He puts a lot of passion and energy into it.” Leitten said. “He really loves what they do and that’s important to me. It’s just cool to watch and see what it’s like behind the scenes.”

Currently, Leitten has offers from Vanderbilt and Wyoming but more could be on the way. Tennessee has told him they want to continue to build the relationship with him as he continues to get bigger and stronger.

“They just said keep coming back and seeing them. They want me to come to camp and I will try and camp there and should be able to,” Leitten said. “Coach Mahoney said something about schools taking it too fast these days and I think that’s true and I like that. I want to be happy wherever I go and I like that they are building that relationship so I don’t rethink a decision.”

-Fortenberry

Rivals

 

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"Prince Fant - He and Gray will be on campus later tonight to stay with friends and visit the campus once again. He still likes Ole Miss, LSU and Auburn, but here again, Vols are moving in the right direction."

-Fortenberry

 

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"Akers really likes the situation in Knoxville right now with Kamara and Hurd likley gone. I think they are in a really good spot with him."

- Fortenberry

 

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The top-100 running back from Clinton (Miss.) High School made a brief visit to Tennessee less than two weeks ago and is planning to visit the Vols again for the Orange and White Game on April 16, and sources close to his recruitment have told GoVols247 that Tennessee has emerged as one of the favorites to land him.
But sources have indicated that Akers has expressed a willingness — and perhaps even a desire — to attend an out-of-state school, and at least one source suggested that Tennessee and Ohio State currently might be in the best shape with him. The Buckeyes hosted him on one of his most recent visits in early March.

Akers, who’s planning to be an early enrollee, has been to Tennessee’s campus a few times over the past 18 months. He has developed a strong relationship with Vols running backs coach Robert Gillespie, a fellow Mississippi native, and sources said he’s intrigued by the possible opportunity to compete for significant playing time right away next year at Tennessee.

While Akers isn’t expected to make a final decision soon, Tennessee undoubtedly is in good shape with the nation’s No. 35 overall prospect and No. 3 running back in the 247Sports Composite. The Vols’ upcoming spring game will give them another chance to impress Akers and his family, and while he’s still planning to visit several other schools, Tennessee is expected to remain a strong contender for him throughout his recruitment.

-247

 

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“Just coming off the island, all of this new to me. This is all new to me and my family. So, we are learning along the way,” Filiaga explained. “So, coming to Tennessee we didn’t have any expectations to what it would be like. But, what we saw was a beautiful campus and it was a very nice atmosphere. It was friendly.”

Butch Jones and his staff are hoping that changes and it seems their first impressions on Filiaga were impressive despite not feeling well during his visit.

“I got a great feel when I was at Tennessee. It was actually a bad day for me because I was sick. I was kind of out of it and I felt bad because all the coaches were really fired up that I was there,” Filiaga said. “I was really excited there too and I was looking forward to the trip. I was glad my mom made the effort to take me out there to Tennessee to see what they have because I was begging her.”

Why would Filiaga want to visit the Vols in the first place? Credit graduate assistant Derek Day, who has helped the Vols secure visits from several West Coasts standouts.

“I just kept hearing from coach Day how awesome Tennessee was and about the atmosphere there with the fans and the student body,” Filiaga said. “Hearing from his words about Tennessee and Rocky Top, I wanted to see it for myself. Also, my mom talked to coach Day a bit and my mom loved him and she was interested in visiting Tennessee, too.”

-VQ

Rivals