Tennessee's 2016 National Signing Day Wish List

Tennessee's 2016 recruiting class won't be as highly ranked as its last two, but it has the opportunity to wind up filling needs and roles exactly the way coach Butch Jones set out to do.

You always want to sign highly rated classes, but with a smaller group that currently numbers 16 and likely won't end up but with 20 or 21 commits, this class was never going to blow the doors off the rankings.

Toss in that the past two over-signed classes included a bunch of immediate contributors, and selling playing time was out the window in this year's haul. But that doesn't devalue this year's Volunteers class at all.

UT is currently ranked 22nd nationally and just eighth in the league, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. But with some big hits on top targets down the stretch, there's no reason Jones can't close with a Top 12-15 class.

Tennessee hit the JUCO ranks for immediate contributors at defensive tackle (Alexis Johnson), receiver (Jeff George) and defensive back (Desmond Henderson). It's fortified the offensive line with developmental prospects in Nathan Niehaus and Marcus Tatum to go along with 4-star Ryan Johnson.

UT's also got a quarterback of the future in Jarrett Guarantano, a potential dynamic change-of-pace running back in Carlin Fils-aime and several key defenders, including the state's second-ranked player, Daniel Bituli. 

Following the news that UT and linebacker Tim Hart were parting ways on Monday, Fox Sports Knoxville radio personality Houston Kress speculated it could mean big things about where the Vols believe they are with some top talent in these final weeks.

A few guys could really turn a good class into another great one for Jones, though. Let's take a look at a wish list of some big areas of need in the final few weeks that, if addressed, could really flip the narrative on the '16 Tennessee recruiting class.

Two impact defensive linemen

Credit: 247Sports

One old football adage says games are won in the trenches, and another is that you can never have too many defensive linemen—especially in the SEC.

That holds true for Tennessee, who has struggled in each of the past two seasons to have a viable, deep rotation on the defensive front. The Vols specifically failed to field a stable of able interior linemen who could keep the starters fresh. 

Until the Vols get deeper on the defensive front, they'll never have a dominant defense. Considering they lost defensive tackle Owen Williams and end Curt Maggitt from the '15 roster, that's two spots UT lineman coach Steve Stripling must fill. Others wouldn't hurt, either.

Already, the Vols have secured a pledge from Johnson, and there's a possibility that Bituli could wind up a hybrid defender like Maggitt was, but that's it so far for Tennessee. The decommitments of Jonathan Kongbo and D'Andre Christmas-Giles left UT in a mess.

That's why the Vols have to solidify that position down the stretch.

This past weekend, Kongbo announced his top eight on Twitter, and the Vols were at the top. Though the nation's top-ranked JUCO player didn't indicate whether or not his list was in order, it was a positive sign for UT.

"

Top 8  pic.twitter.com/sut1HCwvGZ

— Jonathan Kongbo III (@King_Kongbo) January 16, 2016"

Kongbo will still visit Alabama, and Ole Miss, Oregon and Washington are also in the race. But if Tennessee can get Kongbo to recommit, that would go a long way in strengthening a major need. The Vols need an impact pass-rusher to go along with Derek Barnett, and Kongbo would provide it.

Citra, Florida, prospect Jordan Woods also would give Tennessee a nice prospect on the front. He's listed as a defensive end, but at 255 pounds, he's a guy with the versatility and athleticism to bulk up and move inside.

The Vols lead the predictions for him in the 247Sports Crystal Ball projections, and he could announce this week.

Another huge prize that Tennessee is in the thick of the race to sign is 5-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who seems to be down to the Vols, Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State. The Buford, Georgia, star lineman would be a jewel of UT's class, and he's set to visit on Jan. 29, the weekend before signing day.

JaQuan Bailey, Chris Daniels and some others are still on the list for the Vols, who've cast a wide net to fill those two spots. It will be interesting to see just how well UT finishes along the defensive front.

A receiver with difference-making speed

Credit: 247Sports

It has been an interesting few days for the Vols in wide receiver recruiting as they look to add a blazer to a haul that already includes George, Corey Henderson and Brandon Johnson.

This past weekend, perhaps the top remaining viable target on UT's board visited Knoxville, and Marquez Callaway left impressed, according to GoVols247's Ryan Callahan. The 6'1.5", 177-pound Warner Robins, Georgia, native has included the Vols among his top group for a while.

Now, all UT can do is wait and worry about Callaway's two remaining visits, to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. If either of the two Mississippi schools can convince the U.S. Army All-American to head that way, it'll be a big blow to the Vols.

On Monday, Binjimen Victor committed to Ohio State (per 247Sports' Ryan Bartow), fresh off a visit to Knoxville. So that leaves Callaway and Velus Jones Jr. as the Vols' best bets to complete the class.

Jones is down to UT, Southern Cal and Oklahoma, and the former Trojans commitment isn't real chatty in the recruiting process, so where he'll wind up is anybody's guess.

With numbers tight, it's uncertain if the Vols could take Callaway and Jones if both wanted to head to Knoxville, especially if things fall for Tennessee the way it hopes for them to. But UT needs another receiver in this class, and preferably one who can take the top off the defense.

Von Pearson is out of eligibility, and so is Johnathon Johnson. With the surprise decision of Marquez North to head to the NFL a year early, that makes the Vols short on numbers and needing some impact difference-makers on the edge and in the slot.

Callaway and Jones are a pair of guys who would definitely help, and while Mecole Hardman remains one of UT's top targets on the board, that is beginning to look more like an Alabama-Georgia battle in the waning weeks.

Perfect close to the OL class

Credit: 247Sports

Even though Tennessee is seemingly solid on the interior of the offensive line, there is one player left in this year's recruiting cycle who'd elevate the talent level a notch over the next few years.

Hudson, North Carolina, lineman Landon Dickerson was recently among the new 5-star prospects anointed on 247Sports, and even though he's still a 4-star overall, he's a really good player who would be a quality close for anybody who lands his services.

Coming out of this weekend's visit to Florida, the 6'5", 300-pound versatile lineman who could play anywhere across the line on the next level, told 247Sports' Bartow that the Vols and Florida State were atop his current leaderboard heading into the back stretch of his recruitment.

"Those are the top ones," Dickerson told Bartow. "They are the most consistent and that's a big part."

If the Vols are going to swing his commitment, it seems they'd need to secure that visit on the weekend of Jan. 29. Dickerson is still trying to decide between visiting Tennessee or Georgia, which would solidify the thought that his recruitment seems to be trending in the direction of the Seminoles currently.

Dickerson would be a bit of a luxury for UT rather than a glaring need, and with Niehaus, Tatum and Johnson in the fold, it isn't a huge blow if he goes elsewhere. The Vols also have Dylan Wiesman, Jashon Robertson, Charles Mosley, Venzell Boulware and Jack Jones, who can play guard.

But Dickerson is a potentially elite player, and the Vols have desperately wanted him since they began recruiting him nearly a year ago. To lure him in would only enhance the depth and talent across the front.

They'll continue to recruit him as one of the top remaining targets on the entire board.

A Warrior to lead them into battle

Credit: 247Sports

By now, it's probably nearing broken-record status, but Tennessee really wants 4-star safety Nigel Warrior.

Not only that, the Vols really need him, too.

Vols fans who follow recruiting will watch this year's NFL draft and hear the names "Jalen Ramsey" very early and "Vonn Bell" a little later among the names called on the first day. Both of those guys are juniors leaving a year early from Florida State and Ohio State, respectively, because of brilliant college careers.

Both could have been Vols.

Though Ramsey never showed a ton of interest during the Derek Dooley regime, Bell was a lifelong UT fan who wound up choosing the Buckeyes. The Vols really could have used elite talents such as those two on the back end, even though Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil had solid careers.

Warrior is that kind of talent.

He can play cornerback if necessary and probably even nickelback if needed. But he also could fit at safety, where Tennessee needs him, considering Randolph and McNeil are out of eligibility. He may even be able to step in and play right away. He almost assuredly will on special teams.

With three weeks remaining until national signing day, Warrior appears wide-open between Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and dark horse LSU. 

Yes, his dad, Dale Carter, played in Knoxville back in the Johnny Majors days, but UT doesn't need him because he's a legacy. The Vols need him because he's the kind of player who can fortify the defense for years to come.

That final weekend where he'll visit along with Brown and several others is shaping up to be huge for the Vols. If Dickerson comes, too, that will be one of the most important recruiting weekends in recent memory.

In discussing that trio, Callahan noted: "Landing at least one or two of those longtime top targets could change the complexion of Tennessee’s 2016 class while also addressing some of the Vols’ remaining needs."

If they close with Warrior, this class has to be considered a success. Losing him would be one of the biggest disappointments of Jones' tenure.

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.