#TN2023 Recruiting: Top Prospects Making Commitments

It has been a busy offseason thus far but we are here, we have made it to commitment and camp season where many top recruits are starting to come off the recruiting board, including those here from the great state of Tennessee. College coaches have evaluated prospects thoroughly during the past several months, extending offers and putting players who they want at the top of their boards. As we head into the latter parts of April and then sprint right into May, June and July, it’s prime time for recruits to start making decisions and begin thinking about their future’s at their eventual college home. That process has already begun here in Tennessee where over the past three weeks, some of the top prospects in this state have made commitments and done so to some big time college programs. The festivities really started up a few weeks ago when the 6th ranked overall prospect by #PRZTN in Mt. Juliet (TN) linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="102205" first="Ethan" last="Crisp"] gave his commitment to Vanderbilt. It was a big addition by the Commodores as Crisp is the best coverage linebacker in this state and one of the best in the country as well. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Committed.. <a href="https://twitter.com/CSmithScout?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSmithScout</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTBarr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTBarr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Lea?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Lea</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Kendall_Lawson3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kendall_Lawson3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bartonsimmons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bartonsimmons</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Lezynski?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Lezynski</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rwweinstein?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rwweinstein</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NCEC_Recruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NCEC_Recruiting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NickyV05?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NickyV05</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHowellVU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHowellVU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBlaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBlaz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanW_Rivals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeanW_Rivals</a> <a href="https://t.co/QAlwpbyB5c">pic.twitter.com/QAlwpbyB5c</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="102205" first="Ethan" last="Crisp"] - SS/LB (@EthanCrisp12) <a href="https://twitter.com/EthanCrisp12/status/1509637480655593488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> As soon as Crisp made his commitments, several others started to follow suit with the next big one coming from Alcoa (TN) O-lineman [player_tooltip player_id="102358" first="Lance" last="Williams"], when he committed to Virginia Tech out of the ACC. This was a big get for the Hokies as Williams has the size, physicality, technique and football smarts to step on campus next Fall and compete for immediate playing time. The Tornadoes stud lineman has the makings of a multi year starter and possible All-ACC performer during his time in Blacksburg. The school that has had the most success thus far this spring with adding commitments has been the Tennessee Volunteers. The home state Big Orange has tapped into the Middle Tennessee area this month to bring in multiple high caliber prospects, including the #1 overall prospect from the in-state 2023 class. After a long pursuit and offers from some of the best football programs in the country, Riverdale (TN) edge linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="102249" first="Caleb" last="Herring"] put an end to his recruitment recently by pledging his services to Tennessee and joining his brother Elijah up on the hill in Knoxville. Herring is filled with all sorts of potential and upside for the next level as a premium pass rusher and a guy with the physical traits to even possibly take his game into the pro ranks one day. Before adding the commitment of Herring, the Volunteers also added two more pledges from two of the better linemen in this state in Greenbrier (TN) defensive end [player_tooltip player_id="150344" first="Nathan" last="Robinson"] and hometown two way prospect in Knox. Catholic lineman [player_tooltip player_id="102223" first="Trevor" last="Duncan"]. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Committed🍊<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachGolesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachGolesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachg76?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachg76</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachjoshheupel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachjoshheupel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinPriceless?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustinPriceless</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanCallahan247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanCallahan247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JElmo_BobcatFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JElmo_BobcatFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/suidatras?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@suidatras</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VoiceOfCatsTN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VoiceOfCatsTN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenbrierFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GreenbrierFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vol_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vol_Football</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GBO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GBO</a> <a href="https://t.co/Pj3US4RTHk">pic.twitter.com/Pj3US4RTHk</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="150344" first="Nathan" last="Robinson"] (@Nathan_R_19) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nathan_R_19/status/1513534023859122181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Both of these guys are possible high impact players during their time in Knoxville. Robinson is a big dude that produced 19 sacks as a junior and shows the upside to do even more on the college level. Duncan is one of the more intriguing talents from the in-state 2023 class as the Fighting Irish lineman could develop and excel on either side of the ball but it appears he is coming to Tennessee as a D-lineman to start his college career. One of the prospects who has some of the best long term upside is Franklin-Grace (TN) O-lineman [player_tooltip player_id="228144" first="George" last="Steih"] and just a few weeks ago, he took himself off the recruiting trail when he gave his commitment to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and banked himself becoming a force in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Steih looks the part of a future college offensive tackle as he sports a nice, lean frame along with long arms and an athletic lower base. Wake Forest saw his potential early and pursued him hard, eventually landing his commitment. Continuing on the offensive line, two more athletic big men in trenches made college commitments within the last week and both guys are absolute steals and prospects with their best football days ahead of them. Henry Co. (TN) offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id="102185" first="Luke" last="Brown"] recently took an unofficial visit to Arkansas and that visit solidified everything for this Middle Tennessee product as quickly after that trip, the Patriots big, burly blocker committed to the Razorbacks. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Excited about the future‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WPS</a> 🐗 <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCKennedy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSamPittman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSamPittman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachYurachek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachYurachek</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RazorbackFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RazorbackFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HCPatriotsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HCPatriotsFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachrmuench?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachrmuench</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/counce20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@counce20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adamgorney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adamgorney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SWiltfong247</a> <a href="https://t.co/iZpk8OcBeV">pic.twitter.com/iZpk8OcBeV</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="102185" first="Luke" last="Brown"] (@Luke_Brown71) <a href="https://twitter.com/Luke_Brown71/status/1516530836270727171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> This was a big pickup for the Hogs as they continue to stockpile talent across their offensive line and Brown is a guy that has the potential to play tackle in the SEC but at worst can slide inside to guard and dominate that position. Two sneaky under the radar commitments made by two greater Memphis area products just this week was Briarcrest Christian (TN) offensive guard/center [player_tooltip player_id="102179" first="Nate" last="Bledsoe"] committing to Rice and Houston (TN) offensive tackle/guard [player_tooltip player_id="102290" first="Luke" last="Needham"] joining right alongside him, pledging to the Owls as well. Both these guys are talented young men that floated way under the radar when it came to their recruitments. Bledsoe held 20 plus offers but most of them came from the FCS level while Needham was basically in the same boat but both guys held offers in hand from Rice and saw it as too good of an opportunity to pass up on. While this is just a handful of prospects who have made their commitments, many others are about to follow suit, so expect more in-state players to make their decisions here very soon, including a few big names like [player_tooltip player_id="102315" first="Brycen" last="Sanders"], [player_tooltip player_id="102233" first="Brock" last="Glenn"], [player_tooltip player_id="150305" first="Kenny" last="Minchey"], [player_tooltip player_id="102191" first="Drake" last="Carlson"], [player_tooltip player_id="102308" first="Marcel" last="Reed"] and many, many others.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> COMMITTED🦉💙 <a href="https://t.co/9A0HrC14qE">pic.twitter.com/9A0HrC14qE</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="102179" first="Nate" last="Bledsoe"] (@nate_bledsoe75) <a href="https://twitter.com/nate_bledsoe75/status/1516114349533896709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>