Defensive Recruits Who Could Fortify Bob Shoop's Inaugural Defense at Tennessee

New Tennessee Volunteers defensive coordinator Bob Shoop received two huge bits of good news in the six days since he's been on the job with outside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton electing to return to Rocky Top for their senior seasons.

But even with those elite players being the best "recruits" the Volunteers could land between now and national signing day, there are still some actual prospects who could make an immediate impact and are still very much in the picture.

With the linebacker position relatively secure, any player UT adds at that position would be a luxury. That doesn't mean the Vols are done recruiting that position, however.

There are also still major needs on the defensive line and in the secondary that should be addressed in this class. And coach Butch Jones is awaiting the final decisions for several marquee players.

Shoop needs bodies to fill out some roles in the rotation, and there are still a few guys on the recruiting board who could step right in and play for Tennessee. Getting the right players could shore up what looks on paper to be an extremely strong unit.

That's why you'll see the Vols go official-visit heavy in this final remaining month, trying to find the right few players to fill the final handful of spots left in the 2016 class.

The ranking may not be as high as the previous couple of years, but the Vols still could wind up filling all their needs. The Vols are going to cast a wide net for the precious few spots left, and with a new coordinator and new names popping up every day, the board is fluid.

Let's take a look at some prospects who could make a very big splash right away for UT.

Jonathan Kongbo, 4-Star Defensive End

Credit: 247Sports

Jonathan Kongbo (right) with Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling.

One loss that's going to be extremely hard to stomach if the Vols can't get him back in the fold is 4-star defensive end and former commitment Jonathan Kongbo.

The Surrey, British Columbia, resident was the nation's top-ranked JUCO prospect this year after a standout season at Arizona Western. He pledged to UT but backed off that commitment when other teams began offering. 

At 6'5.5", 264 pounds, Kongbo is a Jarran Reed-type disrupter who could play on the edge or in the interior, and that versatility makes him extremely attractive to teams that run 4-3 and 3-4 sets alike.

He's already visited Knoxville, and though it's rare for players to re-commit after decommitting, the Vols are still trying to stay in the thick of things for his signature. If Kongbo stays out West, he'll likely head to Oregon, USC or Washington.

Another major threat is the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, where he's set to visit on Jan. 22. Several experts think he could wind up in Tuscaloosa, which would make losing Kongbo hurt even worse for UT. Not only would he not be in orange, he'd be in the uniform of a hated rival.

Expect the Vols to visit him a lot over the next month, and try to stay on his mind. He at least seems intrigued, tweeting shortly after the Shoop hire became official at UT that "Coach Shoop is legit." Lead recruiter Robert Gillespie will be making trips to Arizona to try to woo him, and Shoop will probably be a regular visitor, too.

Kongbo is the kind of talent who'd almost assuredly step right into the rotation along with Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen, Kyle Phillips, LaTroy Lewis and Darrell Taylor at defensive end. 

You've got to fight for him, and the Vols are going to. They won him over once before, and they'll battle to do so again.

Nigel Warrior, 4-Star Safety

Credit: 247Sports

The brief resume Jones built when trying to lure legacies to Knoxville is extremely impressive; he's never missed on a player with family ties that he coveted.

Losing out on 4-star safety Nigel Warrior would be the biggest miss of Jones' Tennessee career. He may also be one of the biggest signees if the Vols can pull it off.

Right now, it's anybody's guess where Warrior—who is the son of legendary UT ball-hawking, jaw-jacking safety Dale Carter—will go. He has official visits set up for Tennessee, LSU and Alabama, and he's still got Georgia in the mix with Kirby Smart at head coach and Mel Tucker as the new defensive coordinator.

"It is a good thing," Warrior told 247Sports' Kipp Adams of Georgia hiring Smart and Tucker. "They have got some really good coaches."

Smart and Tucker both recruited him when they were at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide were once thought to be the Vols' biggest threat in landing him. Now, it looks like a three-team race with LSU still having a prime opportunity to impress him, too.

Even so, UT having the family ties and the final visit before national signing day seems to set up fairly well for the Vols. They've got to like their chances. Warrior is so difficult to read, though, it's almost impossible dissecting just exactly what he's thinking in these final days before he makes his pledge.

Getting Warrior to Knoxville would be massive for Jones, especially considering playing time is up for grabs with the departure of Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil from the team following this season. 

With Todd Kelly Jr. and Evan Berry expected to figure into the rotation, there are still reps to be won. Stephen Griffin and maybe even nickelback Rashaan Gaulden or rising sophomore defensive back Micah Abernathy could work their way into action.

But a talent such as Warrior would be nearly impossible to keep him off the field. He has the skill set and versatility to play any position in the secondary, and he is good enough to be a four-year contributor anywhere he goes.

The Vols just hope he decides to spend his college days in Knoxville.

Derrick Brown, 5-Star Defensive Tackle

Credit: 247Sports

If not for Warrior's family ties, the biggest prize remaining on the board for Tennessee would be 5-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown.

Given the Vols' desire to get another able body on the interior of their defensive line, Brown may just be the top target left on the hot board. He's scheduled to visit Jan. 29 along with Warrior in what is shaping up to be a huge weekend on Rocky Top.

Georgia is still the favorite to land the 6'3", 317-pound athletic tackle, but Brown is another quiet prospect that's tough to read. He seems better-equipped to play on the interior of a 4-3 scheme, and with Smart wanting to employ a 3-4 defense in Athens, Brown may not be the best fit.

Auburn, Tennessee and maybe even Mississippi State have the opportunity to win over Brown and pluck him from the Peach State and his Buford, Georgia, home just a stone's throw from the hedges of Athens. Alabama already hosted Brown, and the Tide could sway him, too.

The Vols really need him, maybe more than anybody on the list. 

They've got Shy Tuttle, Kahlil McKenzie, Kendal Vickers, Danny O'Brien and Quay Picou in the rotation, but losing Owen Williams really hurts. Yes, the Vols went out and got JUCO defensive tackle Alexis Johnson to slide in for key reps, but they really need another tackle.

Brown would be the perfect guy. He's big enough to be a force against the run, but he's also athletic enough to get to the passer. He could have a similar impact as Tuttle did before his season was cut short. Brown sees an opportunity in Knoxville, too.

"I feel like I can fit in and come in and play with [McKenzie] and all them, and just go in and try to make an early impact," Brown told GoVols247's Ryan Callahan.

Getting Brown would solidify UT's class and give defensive line coach Steve Stripling another talented prospect to mold into a great player. He's a major need that the Vols will continue to chase.

Chris Daniels, 4-Star Defensive Tackle

Credit: 247Sports

A new name to Tennessee's recruiting board that is very intriguing and one to watch is 4-star Oklahoma commitment Chris Daniels.

Every year around this time, some late possibilities emerge on teams' boards, and the 6'3.5", 299-pound defensive tackle is somebody who at least is showing some interest late in the game.

The Euless, Texas, prospect is one of those kids who wants to continue to play the recruiting game to ensure his commitment to the Sooners was the right one. That's why he set up official visits to Texas (Jan. 15), Tennessee (Jan. 22) and Ohio State (Jan. 29).

When you can get a player of his ilk from a powerhouse program like Trinity, that's a nice coup. Just getting in the hunt at this point is strong for the Vols.

If you can convince him to make it to campus, you've got a legit chance to flip him. Daniels is a big name, ranked by 247Sports as the nation's 19th-rated defensive tackle. 

Given the Vols' need to build depth on the interior, Daniels is one who's tires are definitely worth kicking if he's willing to make the trip east and check out Rocky Top. It wouldn't be the first time Jones dipped into the Lone Star State and plucked a recruit.

The Vols are still trying with Brown and Georgia commitment Tyler Clark, along with Daniel. Aaron Thompson or Joshua Bailey are others who could wind up generating more interest if the Vols have to dip a little bit into their other options.

Regardless, there remains needs across the defensive line. Several end prospects are on UT's list, too, and it would not be surprising for a few other names to pop up in the final few weeks.

Daniel would assuredly be a "take" and a huge surprise this late in the game. The Vols are going to try and sway him to Knoxville when he arrives. If they can, it'll be one of the biggest steals of the cycle.

Jaleel Laguins, 4-Star Linebacker

Credit: 247Sports

If there's a linebacker Tennessee would take to close the class, the only one remaining on the board is Georgia commitment Jaleel Laguins. 

The 6'2", 209-pound outside linebacker would have a tough time cracking Tennessee's deep linebacking corps next year, but he seems to be a perfect candidate to be a speedy, hard-hitting special teamer that has the ability to slide onto the depth chart a couple of years down the road.

That's the path Reeves-Maybin took, and Cortez McDowell is heading in that direction, too. Freshman Quart'e Sapp did the same thing in 2015 before an injury derailed his season. He could get a redshirt year, which would mean more depth for more years for the Vols. 

Even so, Laguins is a player the Vols have wanted for a long time. Linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen recruited him for months before he pledged to the Bulldogs. With Smart at the helm in Athens now, though, it appears that Laguins may not be an ideal linebacker for a 3-4 scheme.

That's why he's at least exploring his options in the days leading up to national signing day, and one of those options could be Knoxville. The Watkinsville, Georgia, native is planning to be on Rocky Top on Jan. 29 along with Warrior and Brown to take his official visit to UT.

It appeared that UT had a bit of momentum with Laguins before the Vols parted ways with defensive coordinator John Jancek, with whom Laguins had built a strong relationship. With Jancek gone, UT may fade from the race.

If Shoop wants Laguins to be a part of this class, he'll need to start trying to lure him into the fold quickly.

He told Georgia 247Sports reporter Jake Rowe prior to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl that he was still committed to UGA, but he admitted to looking around. Auburn and Florida, in addition to the Vols, are trying to get him to flip.

Laguins doesn't represent a huge need for Tennessee as the Vols need linemen much more. It'll be interesting to see how the board shapes up in the closing weeks as Shoop may wind up getting some former Penn State pledges to look southward, too.

Whatever the case, the Vols have options as they look to fill out their board.

All quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.