Tennessee Football Recruiting: Latest Updates on 2015 Commits and Targets

Although the final score didn't reflect it, the Tennessee Volunteers game against the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday proved that head coach Butch Jones' recruiting prowess has the team on the right track. 

Running back Jalen Hurd and defensive end Derek Barnett, both freshmen, made big impacts on the game, with Hurd breaking two long runs and Barnett creating major headaches for the Sooners offensive line throughout the evening.

As Jones has pointed out time and time again, Tennessee is young and lacking depth at nearly every position, and the only way to remedy that situation is by recruiting top-notch athletes.

Thanks to Jones' tenacity, the Vols' 2015 class is shaping up to be every bit as good as the 2014 edition, with two five-star commits and several four-star prospects already on-board. 

While there's certainly a long way between now and national signing day, Jones and his staff will continue pursuing every recruit on their board, including those already committed to Tennessee and those who have pledged to play elsewhere.

Here's a recap of the latest news on Tennessee's 2015 recruiting targets and commitments. 

Drew Richmond, OL

Credit: 247Sports

The Vols received some bad news last week when Drew Richmond, the No. 1 composite rated player in the state of Tennessee per 247Sports, committed to the Ole Miss Rebels over his home state school.

Losing Richmond hurts Tennessee in two ways: First, it signifies that Butch Jones hasn't quite locked down the state, which is essential moving forward. Second, it's the loss of an elite player at a position where the team needs talent the most—the offensive line.

Although it's always tough to flip committed recruits—particularly those who live six hours away from campus—Jones and staff will have one more chance. According to Drew Champlin at al.com, Richmond still plans on taking all five of his official visits—including one to Tennessee.

Expect Jones to roll out the orange carpet for Richmond when he arrives, as he's still likely the coaching staff's biggest priority, especially now that they have witnessed the glaring weaknesses in their offensive line.

Shy Tuttle, DL

Credit: 247Sports

To win SEC Championships, teams need elite defensive tackles. That's why landing Shy Tuttle, a five-star defensive tackle on 247Sports, would be a tremendous victory for Jones and his staff.

Together, Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie would provide Tennessee with the type of defensive front they haven't had since the days of John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth. 

The Vols are considered the favorites to land Tuttle's signature, and he's planning on committing Sept. 26, according to Zach Ragan at AllForTennessee.com. 

Tennessee made national news last month when Jones and his staff created a photoshopped Rolling Stone magazine cover depicting Tuttle and Beyonce with Neyland Stadium in the background. 

Preston Williams, WR

Credit: 247Sports

Preston Williams was one of Jones' first recruits in Tennessee's 2015 class, with his commitment coming shortly after the Vols lost to Florida in Gainesville last season.

A five-star recruit on 247Sports and the No. 2 overall wide receiver, Williams is one of the most sought-after high school players in the country. 

In an August interview with Michael Carvell at the The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Williams stated that he was "shutting down" his recruiting offers and was firm in his commitment to Tennessee.

However, Williams recently told Carvell that he will take an official visit to Alabama—which happens to be his dad's alma mater.

In the same interview, he reassured fans that he's "still 100 percent with Tennessee," and at this point, it's hard to imagine him playing anywhere else after being committed to the Vols for almost a year. 

Kahlil McKenzie, DL

Credit: 247Sports

Although it appears the Vols' need for defensive tackles isn't quite as urgent as its need for offensive tackles, the commitment of an elite tackle like Kahlil McKenzie, a five-star player per 247Sports, is still a cause for celebration. 

McKenzie wowed fellow campers and coaches alike with his performance at The Opening earlier this summer, and there's no doubt that he has the potential to be the best defensive tackle at Tennessee since John Henderson. 

However, McKenzie was recently ruled ineligible to play his senior year of high school football after transferring from De La Salle to Clayton Valley Charter, according to Stephanie Hammon at the San Jose Mercury News. 

Although McKenzie and his family are appealing the ruling, there's a good chance that the next time he suits up in a helmet and pads, it will be for the Vols during winter practices in January 2015. 

Torrance Gibson, QB

Credit: 247Sports

At one point during the spring, it appeared that the Vols were the heavy favorites to land the signature of Torrance Gibson, then the top-ranked dual-threat quarterback on 247Sports. 

Since then, however, Gibson's ranking as a quarterback dropped. In fact, he's now rated as an athlete, and there's a seemingly endless debate on recruiting message boards about whether he will play quarterback or move to wide receiver in college.

For his part, Gibson is determined to prove he's a collegiate quarterback, according to Safid Deen at the Miami Herald. 

One thing is for sure: The Vols and Gibson are an unlikely match at this point, and it's looking more and more like he will spend his college career suiting up as an Ohio State Buckeye.