2017 Recruiting Class

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Every single one is overrated. So there.

 

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Every single one is overrated. So there.

 

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https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/maple/167843

 

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Rivals

 

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“It was a lot of one-on-one (hanging out), but outside of that, it was good just hanging with the group,” he said. “That’s the highlight of the day, hanging out with the other recruits. I know it’s gonna be fun every time I come up to Tennessee. It’s never a dull moment here. Being up here, being around everyone, it’s just like a family atmosphere. I’m really open to being down here, because everyone is accepting me as the person I am. I could really fit in here. I know that.”

Holloman watched in amazement as Tennessee added eight verbal commitments on Orange Carpet Day, rising from the fringes of the top 25 to the top 10 before the day ended. And Holloman said he knew that because he and others kept refreshing 247Sports’ Team Recruiting Rankings throughout the day.

“It was real interesting,” he said. “The jump that they had, that was really crazy. They went from like No. 22 to No. 9. We were looking at it during the day.”

Holloman — the nation’s No. 220 overall prospect and No. 28 wide receiver prospect in the 2016 industry-generated 247Sports Composite — named Tennessee his leader at one point in the process, and the Vols have never fallen from his top list of schools, but he said he never felt pressured to join the pack who committed on Saturday.

“I’m still reserved about it,” he said. “That’s all I’m doing — just making sure I’m taking my time and looking at every school.”

“I know I could really fit in here and fit in the offense, too,” he said. “They definitely spread the ball around, and I know I can be a dominant receiver in that kind of offense.”

Holloman said there’s not a specific checklist in his head for picking the right school, but he said he’d know it when he saw it.

“It’s not something like specific anyone has to do,” he said. “I’m just picking the situation that’s best for me — like, the school, the program, the playing time, the style of offense, the things that are gonna prepare me for the next level and just help me get better as a person.”

- 247

Rivals

 

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It’s hard for any program to head into the state of Alabama these days and pluck a top prospect away from the Crimson Tide and Auburn.

But, Tennessee is trying to do that in its pursuit of Madison, Ala., defensive end LaBryan Ray.

The North Alabama prospect said he wanted to see the Vols again after checking out Rocky Top for a junior day in March. He got the chance to do that at last weekend's Orange Carpet Day.

“I wanted to see the coaches again and talk to them,” Ray said. “I wanted to see the campus again and honestly, I’m just really interested.”

Tennessee only helped themselves with Ray during his most recent time on campus.

“It was good. I got to talk to all the coaches and have a lot of fun,” Ray said. “Just to see the coaches relaxed, it was a good time. It was a good time.”

Ray said a big reason he’s interested in the Vols is because of Tennessee’s defensive line coach, Steve Striplng.

“First off, the coaches. Coach Stripling and those guys,” Ray said. “Then, I wanted to see the campus because it’s one of the best looking ones. That doesn’t hurt, either.

“This is a place I’m really interested in and one of the places I’m really thinking about coming to.

Ray has a number of offers from around the country but Alabama is considered one of the teams recruiting him the hardest. He recently visited Ole Miss and Auburn as well. Mississippi State and Florida could also receive visits this summer.

Ray added that the Vols aren’t too far away, just a little over three hours from his home, and he likes that about Tennessee as well.

"It’s a good enough distance that if I were to come here I could come back home and my parents could come see me play,” Ray said.

While Ray wasn’t one of the eight prospects the Vols landed commitments from on Orange Carpet Day, he did say he could see why they chose the Vols after visiting Tennessee once again.

“It was surprising. But, I can kind of see why,” Ray said, “ And they believed in their heart for them this was it. I guess they are building a great class.”

- Fortenberry

Rivals.com

 

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“I hadn’t been up there in a long time, so it was a good time for me to go up there,” said Herring, who’s ranked the nation’s No. 99 overall prospect and No. 7 weakside defensive end in the 247Sports Composite for the 2017 class.

“I got to see the campus and how beautiful everything was up there this time. … They were always high on my list. (But) it helped them.”

The 6-foot-4, 256-pound Herring announced a top seven of Clemson, Alabama, Southern California, Middle Tennessee, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU, in no particular order, on June 20 following his trip to Tennessee.

He said the group of teams he’s considering is “still the same,” and while he’s not ready to name any clear leaders among his favorites, he admitted he could be moving closer to making his college choice.

“It’s soon,” Herring said. “I don’t know yet, though.”

Herring said he’s still planning to visit Clemson, Alabama and Georgia this summer, although he has yet to schedule any upcoming trips.

Tennessee previously had hosted him for its spring game last year and its home game against Oklahoma last season, and he said the Vols had impressed him both times. But he enjoyed Tennessee’s “Orange Carpet Day,” a laid-back day of fun and games that allowed him to spend time the Vols’ coaches and get to know some of their players."

- 247

 

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