War Room: Recruiting’s final summer push, camp set to kickoff, hoops, baseball
We begin this edition of the War Room as we always do. The War Room is a collective effort of Tennessee notes and news gathered throughout the week by the Volquest staff that is located only on the General’s Quarters. And now, it’s on with the news.
Tuesday is media day for the Vols and Wednesday is first practice as it’s go time for the 2023 season.
The players have a final free weekend before they report for camp. The Vols will continue to be in summer school the first eight days of camps as the session ends on August 10. The fall semester starts on August 23rd so they will get two weeks of just football during fall camp to get ready for the season.
The team appears to be in pretty good health heading into camp. And while there’s plenty of hype around returning players, there’s plenty of intrigue in what the newcomers who weren’t here for spring ball look like as well as what newcomers have made a real jump this summer to put themselves in a position to contribute this fall.
There’s obviously some key position battles that will go on throughout fall camp and there’s little doubt that this team has more depth than Josh Heupel’s first two teams have had.
Throughout the summer there has been buzz about various guys as we have mentioned. Now the question is does that buzz turn into a reality with practice? It does appear that this staff likes this team and the way they have built off last year’s success this offseason.
But there’s no doubt they have a lot to replace.
It’s safe to say the frustrations with the NCAA investigation have turned into relief, but as Danny White told us in the interview there was confidence that they were not going to receive a post-season ban. In fact, the punishment handed down was something that was pretty close to what was mitigated but not signed off on by the committee on infractions which is why it had to go to a hearing.
With that behind them, it’s full speed ahead and for Danny White that means fundraising and building things. We expect work to begin in the next six weeks or so on Lindsey Nelson-Stadium to start that project. Neyland Stadium work is moving along as well with the south end zone, the portals, wifi and the completion of the the west club in terms of decor.
White made it clear in our visit that he’s not slowing down the facilities work as he feels they are a good bit behind in some things from facilities for the student athletes to premium seating and amenities for fans.
So look for them to continue to not only raise more money but to also continue asking the state for more money as well.
Bottom line is we are going to see plenty of work on athletic facilities over the next few years.
One quick note on the NIL proposal from Tommy Tuberville. No one we have spoken with thinks that has a chance because it changes the transfer rule where you can only transfer after three years. No one thinks they are going to go backwards on things that involve student athletes.
One final facility note, Tennessee did re-sod the middle of the practice field and a few sideline spots in Neyland Stadium. The cooler spring and summer made it a challenge with Bermuda, but the heat the last few days has helped the bermuda grow and the sod to take root.
Recruiting
Bennett Warren announced on Thursday that he will make his decision official on Monday. The Houston area offensive lineman had a great visit to Tennessee last month. Tennessee was just another school until he visited and what he found was a school he could see himself at. He will decide really between Michigan and Tennessee on Monday. We have felt like Tennessee built a ton of momentum during that visit and they will look to ride that wave into the decision.
The next announcement after that will come from Amari Jefferson, who will announce his decision a week from Saturday. He will be in town later today and then in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. The question becomes, can Tennessee overcome the Tide in this one? The simple answer is yes they can, but these visits will really decide things in our opinion. If he had already made a decision, he wouldn’t be taking these visits. There is an allure in playing for Nick Saban for Jefferson based off our talks with people close to him. Is it something that is an end all be all? Time will tell.
Ryan Wingo was in town on Thursday and Tennessee continues to be a factor there. The Vols are a school he keeps coming back to and that is something in our opinion. He maintains that he will take things all the way to signing day, but also leaves a small crack, that if he felt good enough about a school, he could do it earlier. He spent time playing basketball with the staff and enjoyed his time with Kelsey Pope and Josh Heupel.
Two names we have heard more this week in terms of dialogue with the Vols are Kam Franklin and Williams NWaneri.
Franklin is at Miami and Auburn this week and should start ending the process soon. We are thinking late August or early September for a decision from him.
As for NWaneri, multiple people told us late in the week that NWaneri and Tennessee have had pretty strong dialogue in the last week or so. He is at Oregon this weekend and Georgia and Missouri are both making big pushes for him. Tennessee hasn’t gone quietly into the night and it’s to be noted that the Vols are currently still in this battle.
Linebacker Chris Cole is rolling into town late today and plans on being here through mid-afternoon on Sunday. Georgia obviously feels confident but Tennessee is going to get all weekend to leave a big impression on the Salem, Va. linebacker. His whole family is coming to town and besides Virginia Tech, who isn’t really in this in our opinion, the Vols are the closest potential destination. His goal is to announce in August as of now.
Defensive lineman Danny Okoye was at Alabama this week and then is going to Oklahoma. Tennessee is still in really solid shape ahead of his official visit in September for the South Carolina game. In our opinion, Oklahoma is the biggest competition but some around Okoye insist he would like to leave the state.
Tennessee has also had great dialogue with Jordan Ross and Kameryn Fountain of late. Tennessee is playing the long game with Fountain and hopes to get him up for an official visit this fall.
Nasir Smith continues to trend to Tennessee as well based off multiple people we spoke with this week.
Tennessee continues to recruit four-star Roger Saleapaga to be the second tight end in the class. The Vols solidified themselves as a player in this one after he visited unofficially in June. He continues to have positive conversation with the staff and still plans to return to Knoxville for an official in November.
He has hit it off well with first-year tight ends Coach Alec Abeln. This recruitment could easily drag on later into the cycle as he appears to be in no hurry to make a decision. It would not be surprising to see him narrow his focus some in the near future, though.
There has been some chatter that 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight could end up at Lipscomb but based off people we spoke to later in the week, the chances of that happening have lessened.
George MacIntyre is supposed to be at Alabama this weekend but he has a media day for Brentwood Academy so we are watching to see it he makes it to Tuscaloosa or not.
Some names we expect to be at the recruiting event this weekend:
Jackson Matthews
Braswell Thomas
Jaylen Mosely
Jaylan Morgan
Ivan Taylor
Jordan Young
Romando Johnson
Brandon Caeser
Jared Smith
D’Nas White
Jeremias Heard
Carmine Orozco
Ethan Utley
Kelan Butler
Juan Gaston
Justin Baker
Eli Owens
Carson Sneed
Geo Kontosis
Gavin Hoffman
JaCorey Whitted
Tory Blaylock
Ty Jackson
Donovan Johnson
Ivan Taylor
Zion Grady
Dylan Lewis
Jackson Cantwell
Martels Carter Jr.
Je’rel Bolder
Isaiah Mozee
Lamason Waller
Cam Sparks
Shavar Young
Alvin Henderson
Chandler Jordan
Chauncey Gooden
Kelan Butler
Zay Minish
Ty Redmond
Christian Jones
Mariyon Dye
Hoops
Summer workouts have been in full swing for Rick Barnes’ squad for the better part of two months now and the Vols are about to get a shot to see what they’ve accomplished in those two months when they travel to Europe next week where they’ll play in three exhibition games.
The trip should be a huge benefit on several fronts. First off, the staff is trying to integrate a couple of transfers in Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey who both figure to have roles on this team. Additionally a newcomer like JP Estrella probably saw his chance at significant minutes increase with the unexpected departure of Chris Ledlum, so the trip will give the staff a better gauge on how he fits and what he needs to work on.
Another benefit to the trip is that the Vols are finally getting close to having a full roster now after Jahmai Mashack took part in the Vol Leaders’ program with a trip to the Philippines and Tobe Awaka spent time with the US national team. With those two missing time (along with Freddie Dillone to a lesser extent), with Zakai Zeigler out while rehabbing as well as Cade Phillips and Cam Carr just arriving in July the entire team really hasn’t been together yet.
As for Dillone, obviously no one would wish for Zeigler to be out, but there is a feeling around the program that the situation has jump started his development to some degree. Dillone was always hitting this offseason with an eye towards earning major minutes this year, but Zeigler’s absence has lent a bit of urgency to his need to take a step this summer.
We’ve mentioned it before, and at the risk of overhyping things, Dalton Knecht continues to be a name that you hear as someone who is turning heads this summer. It remains to be seen how he will hold up defensively but there seems to be plenty of confidence about his ability to score the basketball at this level.
Barnes seemed confident when discussing his team this week that the Vols would be a much better shooting team this upcoming season with a better ability to spread the floor and space things out.
This won’t come as a surprise to anyone paying attention to this team, but there’s plenty of buzz about Awaka and the strides he’s making this offseason. Remember, he didn’t arrive on campus last fall until August so really didn’t have the benefit of the offseason program. He has this time around and has clearly taken advantage of it.
On the recruiting front as of now it pretty much feels like Tennessee is going to hit the fall with a 2024 recruiting board that contains two names; Charlotte area point guard Bishop Boswell and Huntsville, Al. wing Chase McCarty.
Now, very obviously that could change but at least for now the July evaluation period does not appear to have resulted in a bunch of new names being added to the board, which really isn’t this staff’s style in any event.
Also, for anyone getting down about that board, remember how much work this staff has done in the spring recruiting window. Associate head coach Justin Gainey pulled in two five stars—Julian Phillips and Jonas Aidoo—in successive years in the late window and the Vols obviously just did some work in the portal this past spring.
The Vols have been seriously involved with McCarty going back into the winter but only offered Boswell earlier this month after watching him at the Peach Jam.
McCarty has been to Knoxville for a couple of official visits. The Vols will be working to bring him in for an official either late in August or early in September.
Tennessee already has set up an official with Boswell for the weekend of Sept. 8. He is set to see Georgia the following weekend after having visited Xavier and Missouri this summer.
The big question with Boswell for everyone involved is does he stay uncommitted long enough to make that visit to Knoxville. He has an official visit set to Wake Forest for next weekend. The Demon Deacons were the first high major program to offer him and have been on him the longest.
It’s an extremely safe best that Wake Forest will be looking to close this one while he’s on campus next weekend and prevent him from making any further visits.
Baseball
Tennessee’s last remaining ‘big’ target in the transfer portal chose LSU on Thursday, thus Luke Holman will not be in Knoxville. It was a three-team race in the end with LSU edging Tennessee (Mississippi State thereafter) for the right-hander in a decision that was reached late Thursday evening. Connections were a massive factor in this one as his best friend at Alabama (Kade Woods) transferred to LSU weeks ago. One of the biggest things Holman was looking for in his recruitment was comfort and having his friend already there was big.
You look at Tennessee’s projected staff entering 2024 and you’ve got Drew Beam for Friday and AJ Russell for Saturday. The staff can’t say enough nice things about Russell right now and are thrilled to get him in a starting role. The expectations are high for him. But what about a third starter? There’s plenty of options there with several talented freshman arriving on campus (remember, two years ago Tennessee started two freshmen on weekends). Transfer portal addition AJ Causey was the Friday night guy for Jacksonville State this past season. What does Wyatt Evans look like in fall? Vols will have plenty of options.
Though the transfer portal window to enter for undergraduate students has closed, there are still players looking for a new home. The Vols continue to evaluate but the bulk of the work is done.
We mentioned in the Monday Night Chat this week that third baseman Zane Denton returning felt like a good possibility. Those feelings have not changed here to end the week. It’s not done, but it’s on the way in our opinion. Denton went undrafted two weeks ago and has been weighing his options since. He would be using the free COVID year of eligibility if he returns.
Shortstop Maui Ahuna signed a little over three hours prior to the deadline on Tuesday. That means all eight Tennessee draft picks have signed professional contracts and are awaiting placement in their respected farm systems.
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