With the addition of junior college defensive end Jordan Allen late Wednesday night, Tennessee’s first-ever early signing class has jumped to 12.
Allen is a four-star prospect out of City College of San Francisco, California, announced he had committed to the Vols and then signed a national letter-of-intent. He is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound redshirt sophomore who is ranked No.
2 nationally among JUCO defensive ends. Allen chose the Vols over Michigan State, Colorado, Arizona State and TCU.
Allen played wide receiver and defensive back at Armijo High School in Fairfield, California. As a senior, he caught 50 passes that included eight touchdowns. The All-Monticello Empire first team selection had nine touchdown receptions as a junior and put up seven interceptions as a sophomore.
Allen redshirted at UC-Davis before transferring to City College where he had 27 tackles, eight for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass breakups in 2017.
In-state wide receiver Alontae Taylor, a four-star prospect who de-committed from the Vols after Butch Jones was fired, now says he will sign with Tennessee on Friday at 1 p.m. EST in the Coffee County Central High School gym. Taylor originally committed to UT in June 2016.
Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder who could play wide receiver or in secondary at Tennessee, is the No. 29-ranked wide receiver nationally and No. 6 prospect in the Volunteer state. He had first committed to Vanderbilt in October 2015.
Tennessee and new coach Jeremy Pruitt’s staff could still sign more players before the end of the day Friday, and possibly will add several players during the traditional national signing day on Feb. 7.
UT’s early signing class as of Thursday morning features seven members from the state of Tennessee, three Californians, one player from Florida and one South Carolina native.
Six of the newest Vols have been selected for postseason high school all-star games, including U.S. Army All-American Bowl participant Greg Emerson, a defensive end, and Under Armour All-America Game selection Paxton Brooks, the nation's No. 2 punter.
"We are very excited to welcome this group of outstanding young men who signed with us today," Pruitt said. "They are terrific football players, who also display exceptional character off the field. We appreciate the commitment they have made to the University of Tennessee. They will be the foundation for our first signing class here. We said we were going to build a fence around the state and this is a good start. We also know that Tennessee is a national brand, and it's exciting that some of these players from across the country will be wearing the 'T' on their helmets. We hope to have a few more guys sign these next two days, too.
"We know we still have a lot of work to do on the recruiting trail, as we will sign several more players in February, but today is a great way to begin. We will get back to work when I return in January. I want to thank Vol Nation for all of the support these first two weeks on the job. I am honored and humbled to be your head coach, and I'm looking forward to devoting all of my time to our football team following the College Football Playoff."
The Vols have already signed four the state's Top 10 recruits, according to Rivals: Emerson (No. 3), Cordova High School teammates Jerome Carvin (No. 8) and Jeremy Banks (No. 9), and 2017 Tennessee Titans District II-A Mr. Football Brant Lawless (No. 10).
The class also features a pair of Knoxville area stars in Gibbs offensive lineman Ollie Lane and Farragut tight end Jacob Warren.
California quarterback J.T. Shrout rocketed up recruiting boards this season and is ranked the No. 14 pro-style quarterback in the nation, according to Rivals, while Dominick Wood-Anderson is the No. 1-rated junior college tight end prospect in the country. Linebacker Jordan Allen ranks as the No. 9 ESPN JUCO Top 50 Recruit.
Additionally, the Vols signed one of the Nashville area's top recruits in offensive lineman Tanner Antonutti and national prep powerhouse IMG Academy defensive lineman Kingston Harris.
After being named head coach on Dec. 7, Pruitt had just 10 days to put together a signing class before the dead period began on Dec. 18, limiting contact with recruits. Pruitt, who was named 247Sports Recruiter of the Year in 2012, and members of his coaching staff worked tirelessly to secure the Early Signing Period class.
The signing period continues on Thursday and Friday.
First-Day Signees
Ollie Lane
Freshman, OL, 6-5, 285
Corryton, Tenn.
Composite Rank: No. 33 OG
State Rank: No. 29 in Tennessee
High School: Gibbs High School
Invited to play in 2017 Toyota East-West Tennessee All-Star Classic
2017 TSWA Class 5A All-State team
Region 2-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016 and 2017
Anchored a Gibbs offensive line that finished 8-4, losing in the second round of the 5-A playoffs in 2016.
Paxton Brooks
Freshman, Punter, 6-5, 170
West Columbia, S.C.,
Composite Ranking: 3-Star
State Rank: No. 2 Kohl’s Professional Camps
State Rank: No. 15 in South Carolina
High School: Airport High School
Ranked as the No. 2 punter in 2018 Class, Kohl’s Professional Camps
2016 4A All-Region Kicker/Punter
2016 Midlands Punt Leader
2016 South Carolina All-Midlands Second-Team kicker
2015 Class 3A All-Region Kicker/Punter
2014 Class 3A All-Region Player
Averaged 41.8 yards per punt and hit 8-of-10 field goals, including a 51-yarder against North Augusta and was 45 for 48 on extra points in 2016.
Tanner Antonutti
Freshman, OL, 6-5, 260
Nashville, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 3-Star
State Rank: No. 23
High School: The Ensworth School
2017 Division II-3A East/Middle All-Region Team
2016 Division II-2A Mr. Football semifinalist
2016 Division II-2A East/Middle All-Region team
2016 TSWA Division II-2A All-State team (DL)
Primarily played tight end at Ensworth, but made switch to offensive tackle during senior year. Allowed less than five sacks in games at OT. In 2016, made eight catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns and anchored offensive front that produced 345.1 yards and 27.3 points per game. In 2014-16, had 13 receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Also registered 36 tackles, 14 for loss, with eight sacks, eight pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a recovery.
J.T. Shrout
Freshman, Quarterback, 6-3, 190
Newhall, California
Composite Ranking: 3-Star
State Rank: No. 72 pro-style QB
High School: Hart High School
Led Hart High School to an 8-4 record and the Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinals as a senior, his lone season as the team’s starting quarterback. Completed 211 of 414 passes for 3,064 yards and 27 touchdowns. Rushed for 262 yards and four touchdowns.
Kingston Harris
Freshman, DL, 6-4, 272
Orlando, Florida
Composite Rank: 3-Star
State Rank: 176
High School: IMG Academy
Spent first two seasons at Orlando Christian Prep before transferring to IMG. 30 games played, 133 tackles, 11 for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles. 2015 SSAC All-Conference honorable mention as sophomore. Led OCP to runner-up finish in Sunshine State Athletic Conference as freshman in 2014.
Jerome Carvin
Freshman, OL, 6-4, 330
Cordova, Tennessee
Composite Ranking: 4-Star
State Rank: No. 11 OG
High School: Cordova High School
2017 All-Region 7-6A team, 2016 All-region 4-6A team. Helped Cordova to 371.9 yards per game, a 12-2 record and the Class 6A state semifinals as a junior. Cordova was 8-3 and reached the playoffs Carvin’s senior year.
Jeremy Banks
Freshman, RB, 6-2, 215
Cordova, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 3-Star
State Rank: No. 2
High School: Cordova High School
Banks rushed 339 teimes for 2,773 yards and 48 touchdowns. Averaged 194.1 yards per game. As a senior, Banks gained 1,941 yards and scored 32 touchdowns, an average of 194.1 yards per game. A TSWA All-State selection and All-Region 7-6A pick this season. Cordova went 8-3 and reached the state playoffs. First Memphis area player to score seven touchdowns in a game since 2011 in the Region 7-6A championship game against Arlington.
Greg Emerson
Freshman, DE, 6-3, 280
Jackson, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 4-Star
State Rank: No. 4
High School: Northside High School
ESPN 300 recruit (281). Invited to the 2018 U.S. Army All-American bowl. Led Northside to the 2016 playoffs. Participated in Nike’s 2017 “The Opening Finals” in Oregon. Did not play the 2017 seaosn due to injury.
Brant Lawless
Freshman, DL, 6-3, 285
Nashville, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 4-Star
Freshman, DL, 6-3, 285
Nashville, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 4-Star
State Rank: No. 8
High School: Nashville Christian School
ESPN 300 recruit (165). Named 2017 Mr. Football for Division II-1A, West Region Player of the Year, 2016 Mr. Football finalist for Division II-1A and 2016 TSWA All-State team. Named No. 3 on The Tennesseean’s 2017 “Dandy Dozen. Had 49 tackles, 16.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. Totaled 110 tackles, 32 for loss and four sacks in fist three years at NCS. Helped lead NCS to its first state football title in 2015.
Jacob Warren
Freshman, TE, 6-6, 211
Knoxville, Tennessee
Composite Rank: 3-Star
State Rank: No. 21
High School: Farragut High School
Played in 2017 East-West Football All-Star Classic. Led Farragut to the 2017 Class 6A state playoff second round. Caught 39 passes for 659 yards and eight touchdowns, including four against Bradley Central in the season opener. Grabbed 29 receptions for 479 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior.
Dominick Wood-Anderson
Junior, TE, 6-5, 245
Spring Valley, California
Composite Rank: 4-Star
JUCO Rank: No. 11
State Rank: No. 1 in California
Junior College: Arizona Western College
ESPN JUCO Top 50 recruit (15). 2017 NJCAA Second-Team All-America, Western States Football League First Team, All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference First Team. As a sophomore, had 31 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns and helped Matadors reach the NJCCA championship game. Had 14 caches for 18 yards and two touchdowns freshman year at AWC. Wood-Anderson played quarterback at Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley, California, and as a junior in 2014 was 50 of 104 for 814 yards and seven touchdowns, with three interceptions. He rushed 48 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Jared Allen
Sophomore, DE, 6-5, 230
Fairfield, California
Composite Rank: 4-Star
JUCO Rank: No. 2
State Rank: No. 4
Junior College: City College of San Francisco
ESPN JUCO Top 50 recruit. In nine games at City College, Allen notched 27 tackles, eight for loss, 4.5 sacks and broke up two passes. He redshirted at UC-Davis before transferring to City College. Allen was a wide receiver and defensive back at Armijo High School in California and an All-Monticello Empire selection after a 50-catch, eight-touchdown senior season. He caught nine touchdowns as a junior and recorded seven interceptions his sophomore season and earned all-league honorable mention honors. He also played basketball and was on the track and field team at Armijo High School.
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)