KNOXVILLE – While stopping at my favorite convenience store for coffee Monday morning, an unusual conversation ensued.
It wasn’t surprising that the clerk wanted to talk about Tennessee football as we transacted our business. The subject could be broached anywhere and at any time. But breaking down football recruiting wasn’t an any-day occurrence in early May.
The subject has some urgency and some real staying power as the Vols continue to rack up commitments. They added three more this past weekend: defensive tackle KaTron Evans and linebacker Aaron Willis from Baltimore and quarterback Kaidon Salter from Cedar Hill, Texas. All three are rated as four-star prospects by the 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee has received 11 commitments in the past two weeks. Overall, the Vols Class for 2021 has 21 commitments and has surged to No. 2 overall nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
In the midst of this weekend’s developments, Vols sophomore quarterback Brian Maurer tweeted: “Did we break the internet again?” He added the hashtag #OnaMIS21ON.”
UT certainly is driving many conversations in many places these days. If a line hadn’t formed behind me, the clerk and I could’ve discussed these related matters until my coffee got cold:
Coaching depth: Assistant Brian Niedermeyer has been recognized nationally for his recruiting abilities. He was named national recruiter of the year in 2019 by 247Sports and ESPN.
Linebacker Henry To’o To’o was recruited by Niedermeyer. During a podcast interview for “The Slice” series, the freshman All-American marveled at how Niedermeyer still remembers the names of To’o To’o’s seven siblings.
Niedermeyer’s name has surfaced during this recent haul but so have the names of several other assistant coaches.
Joe Osovet, who was promoted to tight ends coach in February, assisted Niedermeyer in recruiting Willis. Osovet and first-year running backs coach Jay Graham were instrumental in the recruitment of Tiyon Evans, the top-ranked junior college running back who announced his decision during the initial wave of commitments.
Assistant head coach Tee Martin and recruiting coordinator Derrick Ansley also are major contributors to the coaching staff’s recruiting depth.
Before Niedermeyer, Martin and UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt each received national recruiting honors from 247Sports. Martin was recognized in 2016 while at Southern Cal and Pruitt was honored as a Florida State assistant in 2013.
Recruits as recruiters: Kamar Wilcoxson, a four-star defensive back who’s at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., was the second recruit to commit to Tennessee during this latest haul. Wilcoxson apparently has been helping recruit other players.
Synergy of any kind is valuable, particularly if comes from within the ranks. UT freshman defensive lineman Dominic Bailey played with Willis and Evans at St. Frances Academy. Bailey’s input factored into Willis committing without making a campus visit.
While we’re on the subject: The initial commitments of two weeks ago might have created enough momentum to help fuel this surge.
Furthermore, many of these recruits already had visited campus and were strongly considering UT anyway. With no more visits possible for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus pandemic, the timing of these announcements more understandable.
Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri, who covered University of Tennessee athletics from 1988-2019. He can be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com.