War Room: Football news, recruiting nuggets, baseball, hoops and more
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.
The final push is officially on as the Vols are 18 days away from reporting to fall camp. As we have stressed in the last couple of war rooms, for every strength coach in the country the priority at this point is to return a healthy football team to the coaching staff. Strength coaches have had the players since the spring game ended. So the work has been put in, now it’s about making sure they are healthy for the coaches and the practice field.
Joe Milton and Omari Thomas were no surprise at all in terms of representing the Vols at SEC Media Day. Thomas is one of the most experienced and well spoken leaders on the defense. The coaches have pushed him to be even more vocal with his teammates as he is a ‘lead by example’ kind of guy, but he was an obvious choice.
Joe Milton made total sense because he’s the biggest story on the team heading into fall camp. Milton has continued to do the little things and the extra things this summer. Milton has never lacked for confidence, but those who know him will tell you he has more confidence than he’s had in a while because of his understanding of the offense and the way he played in it last year. Now, it obviously has to translate into production, but he’s carried himself like it’s his team from the moment Hendon Hooker went down with the injury.
Austin noted on the mailbag podcast about Arion Carter and tackles this fall. There’s been a lot of belief in Carter’s ability since last fall which is why he was so highly sought after. That belief in his skills only grew with bowl and spring practice. Carter has all the physical tools at 230 pounds, but this summer has been just as much about the mental side as the physical side. Carter and that entire group of young linebackers have really logged time in the film room trying to get a grasp on the defense. We talk about how the running backs better not take a day off because of the competition in that room. The linebackers behind Aaron Beasley and Keenan Pili are going to have a heck of a battle in fall camp as well.
Overall it’s been a quiet summer for the Vols just a summer of work and we all know that strength and conditioning coach Kurt Schmidt likes to work in silence
The coaching staff is wrapping up their vacation time and will be back in the office in another week or so. Several have been in the building putting the final touches on their fall camp practice schedule and priorities for their position groups.
For Tennessee football aside from recruiting news, the only real thing left this summer is a ruling from the NCAA. The ’90 day’ window closes next Wednesday and we believe news of a decision could come any time now including as early as today.
How that works is the NCAA will release to the media that they will announce their findings and have a media call answering questions about their ruling. They usually give the media a 3-4 hour heads up. They will release their ruling to the institution a couple of hours before they have the media call.
The school can’t discuss the ruling publicly until after the committee on infractions has their media call. So the news, whenever it comes won’t come until lunchtime or later in the day. We don’t believe they are going to announce anything next Wednesday with Josh Heupel at SEC Media Days. So a decision is going to come later today or early next week on Monday or Tuesday.
Of course Tennessee has been fighting any notion of a post-season ban. If there is no post-season ban, then you can look for a large fine, like upper seven figures, as a way to punish the institution.
Remember too, Tennessee has already self-imposed 16 scholarship losses over the past two seasons, so anything above that would be additional losses over a period of time. So everyone keep that number in mind whenever the ruling is announced and the number of scholarship losses are released.
The point is if Tennessee were docked 25-30 scholarships, it’s not like they are going to play with 55 guys on scholarship. It would mean they have 9-14 more to lose over a set period of time which means they are going to be 80 and above each season most likely.
Tennessee’s focus over the last 30 months has been to not punish those who did nothing wrong. We will see what comes out over the next five days or so.
On the facilities front, brick work continues in the portals in the south end zone, wifi boxes are going in the lower bowl in the north end zone and east sideline while the west side lower level club area is being finished out.
Outside the south end of the stadium footers have been dug and are being poured as the prep work of phase one rolls on.
Recruiting
The next scheduled announcement comes later tonight when Braylen Russell comes off the board. Arkansas has made a big run for him since he wrapped up his official visits in June. Tennessee has been in constant contact with him even after he received a crystal ball to Arkansas this week that was quickly removed. The family has spoken with Jerry Mack and Heupel the last couple of days. Russell has wanted to keep things quiet so him asking for the crystal ball to be taken down is not surprising and very likely telling in our estimation.
Atlanta area wide receiver Mike Matthews is seeing the earth get bigger in the window in his recruitment. While some may make it to August before a decision, we don’t believe that will be the case for him. Tennessee has been the one consistent team you hear attached to him and we don’t see that changing as they continue to have really good traction with him.
Amari Jefferson will visit Tennessee and Alabama again at the end of the month. It’s our belief this one is still open and really tight. The fact he is gonna see both again is a good sign for Tennessee as the Tide held the lead in the mid part of June.
St. Louis wide receiver Ryan Wingo is coming back to town at the end of the month. Tennessee still has a strong shot in this one but it’s going to go a while with him officially visiting Knoxville in November for the Georgia game.
California linemen Ayden Breland and Brandon Baker are slated to be in town late in July as well. It’s a punchers chance for Tennessee in our estimation, but occasionally you hit the piñata with the blindfold on which is why if you can get them to town, you take your swing.
Speaking of linemen, Bennett Warren is yet to come off the board and the longer things go the more Tennessee’s chances dwindle it feels like to us. Michigan and the academic side is very much a real thing for the family. Then there is a possible visit to Texas A&M at the end of the month.
Next Friday Edwin Spillman will announce his decision between Tennessee and Ohio State. We will continue to say it’s not far fetched to think he could pick the Buckeyes but so much of this just points orange to us and anyone you talk to inside the state or nationally for Spillman.
Another linebacker who Tennessee is pushing for is Salem, Va. linebacker Chris Cole. He is coming to town in a couple of weeks with Tennessee being his last visit before he likely makes an August decision. Tennessee has a better shot than we had thought after talking to people close to his recruitment. He obviously has Peyton Lewis pushing the Vols which is big, but the visit will be the needle mover, good or bad in our opinion.
Tylen Singleton told us on Thursday that he isn’t sure he will make it to town at the end of the month. Obviously he would need to get to town for the Vols to have a shot in this one.
We spoke with Jordan Ross‘ mom this week as his phone has been off. She had it turned off so they could relax and get away from the madness in recruiting. It certainly doesn’t sound like he is doing anything this month and likely not next. He has said late fall but we don’t feel like this one ends until September at the earliest. Florida and UGA seem to be going in different directions with LSU and Auburn looking like Tennessee’s biggest competition as of now.
Cai Bates continues to feel the love from both LSU and Tennessee. We spoke with him a couple of times this week and he hopes to wrap it up by the end of the month with the first week of August being the latest in his timeline. Based off our talks, it feels like Tennessee has a slight edge but they will need to hold the momentum.
One commit that has not been mentioned much since he committed in April is Edrees Farooq. However, in talking with folks the last couple of weeks, he is one that had a strong spring when Tennessee was through to evaluate him more in-person, and he has carried that over into a strong start to his senior season at perennial national power St. Frances. He is one that could be shaping up to be another strong early evaluation for this staff.
Grayson defensive lineman Nasir Smith is a new name we expect Tennessee to take a hard look at over the next stretch in recruiting. He is a powerful athlete who shows plenty of upside. He is still learning the game, but when he flashes it’s impressive.
Baseball
It was a busy week for Tennessee baseball as eight Vols were selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. It was the second-highest total in program history (10 in 2022) and second-highest total in the Southeastern Conference (LSU had 13). Six of the eight players selected were pitchers and that’s the most in a single draft for Tennessee. Tony Vitello has now had 25 players drafted over the past three MLB Drafts and 35 total. The 28 Tennessee players drafted since 2020 is the most of any program in the country.
He’s winning games and getting guys into professional baseball. Not a bad combo.
Chase Dollander was selected by the Rockies at 9th overall – the highest Tennessee pitcher drafted since Luke Hochevar went No. 1 overall in 2006 and the highest Vol drafted overall since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall in 2016. Maui Ahuna followed in the fourth to the Giants, Andrew Lindsey went to the Marlins in the fifth, Seth Halvorsen to the Rockies in the seventh, Jared Dickey to the Royals in the 11th, Zach Joyce to the Angels in the 14th, Jake Fitzgibbons to the Diamondbacks in the 14th and Bryce Jenkins to the Mets in the 17h round.
All of those players will sign and begin their professional journeys. It was disappointing for Jared Dickey to fall outside of the top-10 rounds, but Kansas City made him a priority pick early on day three to meet his asking price. That’s the reason he slid completely out of day two as teams weren’t willing to meet his price as he continued to slide down the board and the slot-values decreased. That’s the business of baseball.
Tennessee is likely to lose only one high school signee as Carson Rucker was selected by the Tigers in the third round – 25 spots ahead of his MLB Pipeline ranking. That’s a major win. The Vols will, however, lose transfer portal commit Ryan Galanie of Wofford who was drafted in the 13th round to the White Sox. It was always Galanie’s goal to play professionally if the offer sheet was fair. It was and he is off to the minors.
We continue to wait and see what third baseman Zane Denton decides to do. He has another year of eligibility left if he wants it, thanks to the COVID year, but it’s always felt like his goal was to go ahead and begin his pro career as he would have no leverage next draft. We will see what happens. The longer he is unsigned, the likelihood of him returning to Knoxville increases.
Tennessee has done really well in the transfer portal thus far and with five commits (not counting Ryan Galanie), the class is close to being finished. Former Alabama right-handed pitcher Luke Holman is the big fish still out there. Tony Vitello and Frank Anderson have been in this one since the day he entered the portal and Drew Beam (while with Holman at Team USA) has played a big part in this recruitment as well. Holman will be in Knoxville Sunday night and will take his visit on Monday. He will then likely go and see LSU and Mississippi State – while a conversation will occur with Alabama as well before a final decision is made.
The Vols are getting the first crack at him and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could come in and call it a day. However, as we saw with Billy Amick, he could leave and go on other visits and still end up in the class. Tennessee is considered a favorite, along with LSU, so next week will be huge for Holman as the Vols would love to iron out their starting rotation for next spring.
Austen Jaslove was a late departure to the transfer portal this week as the window officially closed on Thursday after 45 days. We expect Kyle Booker’s name to appear in there sometime soon as well, once it is processed. Tennessee could explore the possibility of adding another shortstop out of the portal, but nothing is in motion at this time. Remember, you only had to enter the portal by yesterday – those in the portal are still free to make a decision whenever they choose.
Hoops
Obviously the Chris Ledlum decision to re-enter the NCAA Transfer Portal surprised everyone … even Tennessee’s coaching staff.
Ledlum sat down with Rick Barnes early Wednesday to tell him that he was leaving the program and going back in the portal and by then it was the point of no return. Ledlum already had a flight booked for Wednesday to return home, telling Barnes and others in the program that he needed to get back closer to his Staten Island, N.Y., home.
This is not something that anyone on the staff or with the program has told us, but from the outside looking in, with the return of Josiah-Jordan James, losing Ledlum doesn’t seem much of a blow. Don’t be surprised if you see Ledlum end up at St. John’s.
Tennessee held an open workout Tuesday afternoon at Pratt Pavilion but Ledlum did not participate. A Tennessee spokesperson at the time said Ledlum was rehabbing an injury but the player did not want to disclose what the injury was. Sources told Volquest that Ledlum had a knee issue addressed a few days ago and the plan was for him to not play in the three exhibition games in Italy in early August.
But Barnes talked before practice about Ledlum helping this Tennessee team this season and talked with Volquest after practice about what he had seen from the former Harvard forward and what he liked about his game. So there was no indication just two days ago that this was coming.
It’s probably no coincidence that James was not in the picture when Ledlum committed to Tennessee back in April. Or that it comes on the heels of sophomore power forward Tobe Awaka turning heads by averaging a double-double with Team USA in the FIBA U-19 World Cup earlier this month.
With Ledlum gone, it likely means more minutes for Awaka moving forward and we would assume more minutes for James at the four. Jonas Aidoo will of course be leaned on heavily at the five and the roster change could also mean a slightly bigger role for freshman JP Estrella.
Speaking of Estrella, this week Barns said that Estrella had probably been the most ‘pleasant surprise’ of all the newcomers.
Now, we’re preaching to take what you hear in summertime with a grain of salt, but everyone wants to hear about who is turning heads in summer workouts. The name that we are maybe hearing more than any other right now is Dalton Knecht. Multiple people have told us some variation of ‘Dalton Knecht is a dude.’
We’ll see if that turns out to be the case this fall, but it’s safe to say that Knecht has made a strong impression in his first couple of months on campus.
Another player who is having a strong offseason is DJ Jefferson. Barnes said on Tuesday that Jefferson was ‘probably’ the most athletic guy on the team. He’s still a work in progress, but there’s a lot there to work with.
On the recruiting front we mentioned last week to keep an eye on 2024 Charlotte point guard Bishop Boswell, well, that became more true after Tennessee offered him after watching him at the Peach Jam.
Tennessee came in with a late offer, but the Vols posted up their entire coaching staff; Rick Barnes and all three assistants at Boswell’s last few games at the Peach Jam last week, in an effort to express how serious their interest in.
The Vols will have some ground to make up here with Georgetown and Wake Forest among those who have been after Boswell aggressively for months now.
Obviously cranking up the heat on Boswell like they have would seem to suggest that Tennessee doesn’t feel great about their chances with point guard Ahmad Nowell, who has set a commitment date of July 23. His four finalists are Kentucky, UCONN, Georgia Tech and Tennessee.
This weekend is an open evaluation weekend for college coaches, but it’s not a weekend where there are incredibly organized tournaments run by the various shoe companies. As a result, not everyone hits the road as they did last week.
For Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey will be in North Carolina this weekend to watch Boswell in action. Gainey will also be in Memphis where he’ll be courtside to see 2025 combo guard Jasper Johnson who plays at Link Academy in Missouri.
Link Academy has become a focal point for Tennessee’s recruiting efforts. Assistant coach Rod Clarke has some tight ties to the program and in the last couple of classes the Vols have pulled Julian Phillips, Cade Phillips and Cam Carr from the program.
In addition to Johnson in the ’25 class the Vols are already aggressively recruiting point guard Aaron Rowe, one of the top point guards in the class, who also attends Link Academy and is backcourt mates with Johnson.
The post War Room: Football news, recruiting nuggets, baseball, hoops and more appeared first on On3.
