Tennessee Football Recruiting: Breaking Down Top 2017 Targets at Each Position

You'd think with all the hype surrounding the Tennessee football program, the Volunteers would be one of the hottest teams on the recruiting trail.

Though coach Butch Jones has rebuilt UT through exceptional work throughout his first four classes, the Vols haven't gotten off to the greatest start in the 2017 cycle. Tennessee is currently ranked 36th nationally and has five 3-star prospects and one lone 4-star, per 247Sports.

There's plenty of time to turn that around.

While Jones' hard work in living rooms and in building relationships hasn't manifested in commitments just yet, the Vols are right in the thick of things for a lot of coveted prospects. 

Plus, at least a couple of the 3-star prospects currently committed to Tennessee are sought-after players. Cornerback Cheyenne Labruzza is a Louisiana product with an LSU offer, and Mississippi tight end Chase Rogers received a Mississippi State offer soon after he committed to UT.

Some movement will occur from the players already on Tennessee's commitment list, and with a slew of in-state players who are highly ranked and with the ability to sign a full class of 25, there's plenty of leeway remaining to shoot up the rankings.

It's still early in the recruiting process, and as Jones proved last year with his torrid final couple of days before national signing day, it isn't always how you start but how you finish.

With a whole lot of targets remaining, let's take a look at one of the top names at each position the Vols have zeroed in on who not only have expressed interest in them but are realistic possibilities.

Here are the top UT targets at every position.

Quarterback: N'Kosi Perry

Credit: 247Sports

Few positions embody Tennessee's early-cycle struggles in recruiting as the quarterback spot.

Things weren't always that way. A few short months ago, 5-star quarterback Hunter Johnson was committed to Tennessee before he flipped to Clemson. Since then, the Vols have flirted with several signal-caller options without a ton of luck.

While the Vols are right in the thick of things for the commitment of elite 2018 quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Emory Jones, the quarterback in this cycle maybe hasn't even been offered yet.

Tennessee likes California signal-caller Jack Sears, and he may be the top uncommitted option currently, but the top target remains Miami commitment N'Kosi Perry.

The 6'3 ½", 176-pound dual-threat signal-caller from Ocala, Florida, is a long shot at best. He was committed to the Hurricanes, decommitted and then recommitted to coach Mark Richt's regime. Then, he visited the Vols with what seemed like a lot of interest in UT, but he remained committed to Miami.

UT doesn't really need a quarterback with Quinten Dormady already on campus and doing a good job behind Joshua Dobbs. Redshirt freshman Sheriron Jones and incoming true freshman Jarrett Guarantano look the part, too. 

But Jones has said in the past he wants to sign a quarterback every year, so the Vols will continue to look.

In the past couple of years, the Vols have had success flipping kids from the Hurricanes, as evidenced in the 2016 cycle with the turns of Tyler Byrd and Latrell Williams. But Perry seems firm.

If the Vols can sway him, he'd be a centerpiece of the class. But as of now, it looks like the Hurricanes are getting a good one.

Running Back: Cam Akers

Credit: 247Sports

Without a doubt, one of Tennessee's two biggest needs in the 2016 class is running back, and stud Cam Akers would be a perfect pickup to carry on the legacy of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara.

Both of those star juniors are expected to turn pro following this season, which would leave a major void for the Vols behind center. John Kelly looked the part this spring as a feature back as Hurd and Kamara rested, and incoming freshman Carlin Fils-aime could be a nice change-of-pace option.

But with Joe Young's injury concerns, there's a possibility the Vols will only have two scholarship running backs on the roster in '17. That makes signing at least two backs a must in this class.

The Vols are off to a great start. Akers, in-state back Ty Chandler and Georgia back Trey Sermon all are high on Tennessee. Memphis athlete Chase Hayden—the son of former UT star back Aaron Hayden—also is a strong possibility to wear orange and white.

Akers could be the best of them all, and the Vols have a legit chance of landing the former Alabama commitment.

The 5'11 ½", 212-pound bruiser from Clinton, Mississippi, who recently earned 5-star status and is the second-ranked back in the nation, has dominated the camp circuit this spring, and everybody in the nation wants him. While Ohio State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia and LSU are all in the mix, so are the Vols.

GoVols247's Ryan Callahan even went so far as to call the Vols "one of the teams to beat" for Akers, who seems enamored with the possibility of being able to step right in and be the feature back.

If the Vols can somehow land Akers, he'd be one of the superstars in the class, and he'd also help them surge in the rankings.

Wide Receiver: Tee Higgins

Credit: 247Sports

Another early commitment who didn't materialize for Tennessee was wide receiver standout Tee Higgins.

The 6'5", 190-pound two-sport star (who also is a Division I basketball recruit) from nearby Oak Ridge was a UT pledge for a while. But he struck up a close relationship with Johnson and decommitted shortly after Johnson committed to Clemson.

Higgins also is friends with former Tennessee standout quarterback Tee Martin's son, Amari Rodgers, a receiver from Knoxville who is also committed to the Tigers. So, the Vols are going to have to battle to get Higgins back in the fold.

Currently, 64 percent of Higgins' 247Sports' crystal ball predictions have him heading to Clemson.

"I like how the coaches are family," Higgins told TigerNet.com's Tom Meares. "They treat their players like family."

But Tennessee is home, and the Knoxville area is where Higgins' real family resides. In the end, it's going to be difficult to see him leave the area, and the Vols are hoping the lure of keeping him in front of the home folks wind up working in their favor.

Blessed with incredible size and athleticism, Higgins is a special talent, and it isn't often that East Tennessee produces those. When it does, UT needs to keep those kids home, and Jones knows it.

That's why the Vols are still recruiting him heavily and Rodgers, too. The Tigers are perhaps the hottest name on the recruiting trail currently, and the Vols are going toe-to-toe with them in recruiting for several Volunteer State prospects.

Jones has to make sure they ultimately choose the lighter shade of orange.

Tight End: Tre' McKitty

Credit: 247Sports

Jones loves recruiting in dramatic fashion, and perhaps no other move this year was flashier than the Vols' offering of 20 IMG Academy prospects at one time.

Back on Feb. 26, IMG coach Kevin Wright tweeted about the offers, calling it "unprecedented." 

That school is loaded with talent, and one of those players the Vols covet is tight end Tre' McKitty. Not only does he have a cool name, he has a big game.

The 6'4", 235-pound prospect may only be a 3-star prospect, but his stock has risen considerably recent months. In the past few weeks alone, Oregon, USC and Ohio State have offered. McKitty visited Knoxville for the Orange & White Game this past weekend and then went to Gainesville to visit the Gators.

He's a player coveted by top teams all around the country thanks to his size and athleticism.

Though the Vols already have a tight end commitment in Rogers and signed two in the '16 cycle in Devante Brooks and Austin Pope, it is a vital position to the success of Jones' offense. That's why adding a versatile pass-catcher like McKitty would be great.

It appears the Vols will be in the thick of the race until the end.

"It's going to be one of my official (visit) schools," McKitty told Callahan this week. "I was already going to take an official there, but this just made it for sure."

Tennessee already has established a strong relationship with some IMG kids such as '17 linebacker Santino Marchiol and '18 safety Mike Jones Jr., who is originally from Tennessee. So, McKitty may wind up with some familiar faces surrounding him if he heads north.

The Vols are going to keep trying there.

Offensive Line: Trey Smith

Credit: 247Sports

A year after signing a trio of talented offensive tackles, the position won't be as much of a priority for Tennessee in the '17 cycle. 

But one player at the position who will be recruited as heavily as anybody on the board is Jackson, Tennessee, big man Trey Smith.

The 6'5", 302-pound University School of Jackson product hails from an area that has been good to the Vols in the past. When UT didn't land a player of Smith's ilk from the area, the destination usually is Alabama, and the Crimson Tide are in the thick of this race, too.

Clemson, however, is going into that traditional orange-and-crimson battleground and catching Smith's attention, as is Ole Miss.

Those appear to be the four top teams on Smith's list, and while he hasn't talked a lot about Tennessee recently, there's no reason to suggest UT is fading. Tennessee has some influences in the area, and the Vols are going to be in the heat of the race for Smith's signature until national signing day.

ESPN.com's Tom VanHaaren recently wrote a story on Smith and the influence of his late mother, mentioning UT, Clemson and Ole Miss prominently. But with everybody from Notre Dame to Ohio State to Texas A&M offering the elite player, his recruitment is far from over.

He'll likely take his time, and while Tennessee should be one of the programs Smith gives a long look toward, getting him to sign won't be easy. The Vols are going to have to work some of their in-state magic to get him.

If they ultimately do, he'll join Drew Richmond as a franchise-capable bookend tackle from West Tennessee anchoring the Vols line.

Defensive Tackle: Eric Crosby

Credit: 247Sports

Tennessee won't have to wait much longer to find out if one of its top targets is going to commit to the Vols or whether they'll have to keep recruiting him after he verbally pledges to another school.

Defensive tackle Eric Crosby of Virginia Beach, Virginia, will choose between the Vols and the home-state Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday. The 6'1", 285-pound stopgap has been one of Tennessee's top targets for months.

Getting him would go a long way in securing a spot that, along with running back, is one of UT's biggest needs. In the 2016 cycle, UT signed just one defensive tackle in JUCO transfer Alexis Johnson, whose status is up in the air following a misdemeanor assault charge.

It would not be surprising for UT to sign at least five or six defensive linemen with at least three of those being on the interior. The Vols are off to a good start with in-state tackle Rutger Reitmaier, but teaming him with Crosby would be an exceptional start at the position that would leave the Vols in a comfortable spot.

Crosby may not be the traditional huge SEC defensive tackle, but he is freakishly strong, has a low center of gravity and is disruptive from the middle of the line. He is a bit like former UT JUCO transfer Owen Williams and could step right into the rotation immediately.

The Hokies are selling him on the idea of playing both ways, both as a defensive tackle and as a weapon on offense that could be handed and thrown the ball. The Vols are offering no such gimmicks, but what is important is the depth chart in Knoxville.

Danny O'Brien will leave after this season, and Kendal Vickers has just two years left. That leaves a lot of spots available in an already-thin depth chart. Crosby can come in and almost be assured playing time.

It'll be interesting to see who he picks Friday and whether he ultimately sticks with the decision.

Defensive End: Jordan Williams

Credit: 247Sports

If the Vols have their way, they may just be lining up another Virginia Beach, Virginia, standout alongside Crosby for the next few years.

While Crosby plays at Ocean Lakes High School, top defensive end target Jordan Williams is at nearby Frank W. Cox High School. The 6'5", 250-pound weak-side defensive end is the nation's 10th-ranked player at his position and a 4-star prospect.

He's also a big-time target for the Vols who also is being recruited by defensive line coach Steve Stripling and receivers coach Zach Azzanni. The usual suspects in that region (Clemson, North Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech) are all over Williams, as well as Penn State, but Tennessee is in the thick of the race, too.

If he winds up choosing UT, he'll be the second player with that name to play along the defensive front for the Vols in the past five years.

They signed another Jordan Williams out of Gainesville (Fla.) High School, who wound up moving to defensive tackle as a senior and having a strong final year before getting signed as an NFL free agent.

This Williams, too, is a big-bodied end, but he appears to have the athleticism to stick on the edge.

UT hasn't been mentioned a whole lot lately by Williams, who has been traveling around and getting some visits in, but UT was one of the first schools to show interest in him, and it will probably continue to draw interest.

It would be huge for the Vols to get two anchors for their defensive line from the same general area. Considering all of UT's success in the Tidewater area when it was going through its heyday, having a presence in that area again would not only be a boon for this year but the future as well.

Williams could start that train by committing.

Linebacker: Justin Foster

Credit: 247Sports

Stop if you've heard this before: The Vols are going to have to battle Clemson for the commitment of a 2017 prospect.

Yes, Dabo Swinney may wind up being one of the biggest burrs in Jones' saddle. It seems the Vols and Tigers are interested in the same prospects, which tends to happen when you're recruiting at the highest level. So far this year, UT hasn't had a lot of success against Clemson.

Another prospect they'll do battle for is North Carolina linebacker Justin Foster.

The 6'3", 250-pound linebacker from Shelby, North Carolina, is an ideal fit to be the successor to Darrin Kirkland Jr. in the center of UT's defense for years to come. Early in the recruiting process, the Vols led for his services, a stance he's recently backed off.

Even so, his interest in Rocky Top hasn't waned. Foster visited Knoxville again on April 2, and UT remains in contention to get him.

He told Callahan following that visit that UT would probably be in his top eight when he released one. Even so, a player who once seemed like he may be a candidate to make an early pledge now seems embedded and committed to the recruiting process for the long haul.

"It's either going to be signing day or a little bit before signing day," Foster said when asked about a timetable for a decision. "Maybe a month before signing day, I'll make a decision."

Considering his size and athleticism at a need position, Foster will land on his feet at a top institution. The Vols hope it's in Knoxville, but with two linebacker pledges already in the fold and another couple who seem close to committing, those spots are filling up.

Even so, you can't turn down a player of Foster's stature, and UT will be waiting on him and recruiting him until he makes a decision.

Cornerback: Lamont Wade

Credit: 247Sports

New defensive coordinator Bob Shoop's greatest impact will be felt on the field where he's a known commodity who has the reputation as being one of the top assistants in college football.

Though recruiting isn't one of the things he's known for, his ties to elite 4-star cornerback Lamont Wade may wind up paying huge dividends for the Vols in his recruitment.

The 5'9", 185-pound defensive back has some of the best ball skills and footwork in the entire class, and that's a big reason why he's the fifth-rated corner in the cycle. While Ohio State, North Carolina, West Virginia and Penn State all are high on Wade's list, the Vols have a shot.

Bill Kurelic of 247Sports recently spoke with Wade's father, Carlton, who said the Vols were "stepping up the pace" in the recruitment of his son. They were one of the six schools mentioned.

While defensive backs coach Willie Martinez is spearheading the recruitment now, Shoop had an existing relationship with Wade from his time at Penn State. With Shoop's pedigree and sterling track record of producing elite secondary members, Wade should be intrigued.

Of course, the Buckeyes are going to be difficult to beat in this race, and James Franklin likely will have the Nittany Lions in the thick of it despite all their on-field problems. But the Vols are getting ready to produce some big-time pros from the secondary.

When Cameron Sutton leaves and is taken high in the draft, followed soon by Justin Martin, Todd Kelly Jr. and others, UT is going to quickly develop a reputation for defensive back talent.

Wade may be intrigued by all that attention, and a talent like him would fit right in.

Safety: Deangelo Gibbs

Credit: 247Sports

When Tennessee won the signature of elite safety Nigel Warrior on national signing day in February, it was huge in its own rights. But it may have paid major dividends for the future, too.

Warrior's cousin is Deangelo Gibbs, who just happens to be a 5-star prospect and the top overall player in the state of Georgia who played in the same defensive backfield as Warrior at Peachtree Ridge High School. He's now transferred to powerhouse Grayson, but that hasn't changed the family ties.

Gibbs is also the nephew of UT legendary defensive back Dale Carter, whose sister is Gibbs' mother. Considering how close Gibbs and Warrior are, the Vols have a great chance to earn Gibbs' signature on scholarship papers.

Like Warrior's recruitment, however, it won't be easy. 

The Vols had to sweat Warrior until the very end. Georgia and Alabama were huge threats throughout the '16 cycle, and Auburn and LSU really surged late, but the Vols wound up winning the sweepstakes. 

Gibbs seems enamored with Georgia now that Kirby Smart is the head coach there, and while a lot of pundits ultimately see him in Knoxville with Warrior, that's far from a given. Staying at home and playing for the Bulldogs is very much on the table.

At least UT won't have to wait all the way until next February. With Gibbs planning on being an early enrollee, his decision will come a little sooner. It'll probably wind up being an SEC destination, as he told 247Sports' Kipp Adams.

"More than likely, SEC will be the way to go," Gibbs told Kipp Adams of Gator Sports Radio. "Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Bama, those schools have caught my eye you know."

Though Gibbs is listed as a cornerback by 247Sports, he could play there, safety or linebacker. The Vols will play him wherever he's best suited, but they may not find that out until he gets on campus.

Wherever he plays, he'll be dynamic. He's the type of athlete who doesn't come around often.

Athlete: Maleik Gray

Credit: 247Sports

Another elite athlete who could wind up playing a bunch of different positions is LaVergne star Maleik Gray, who will be one of Tennessee's top prospects in a year absolutely loaded with talent.

The 6'1 ½", 195-pound athlete could play safety or linebacker on the next level, and tons of schools from around the country covet his services. For a while, it appeared he was going to wind up out of state at either USC or Florida State (which holds a commanding 73 percent of his 247Sports crystal ball predictions).

But the Vols have made a furious surge lately for him and teammate Princeton Fant, a physical receiver with excellent size who has been one of Tennessee's top targets for a long time. If UT could get that duo to pledge, it could go a long way in kick-starting a stagnant class.

Gray and Fant made several trips up I-40 to Nashville this spring and grew more and more comfortable with Jones and the Tennessee assistants. 

At one point, he even backed off his pledge that Florida State was his leader and insinuated the Vols were now up there, something he clarified with Callahan in a recent story.

"It's just up in the air," said Gray, who's ranked the nation's No. 47 overall prospect and No. 3 athlete in the 247Sports composite rankings for the 2017 class. "I might have just gotten ahead of myself by talking in the interview as if they were number one. But, I mean, any school is liable to catch my attention. Like I said from day one, I'm open to any school."

But he hasn't always been as receptive to UT as in recent months. With Fant expected to be leaning toward going to Knoxville, it wouldn't be a stretch to say the Vols are trending with Gray, too.

It would be massive to land Gray, who could really help the Vols get off to a strong start at home. If he commits, it could open the floodgates for more.

All quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered at UTSports.com unless otherwise noted.

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