2011 Early Watch list: Tennessee prospects

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to feature some War Room posts on 2011 prospects that Vanderbilt has interest in currently, or may have interest in come this spring/summer.

Despite the constant arguments that go on here, Vanderbilt does start it's recruiting base in Tennessee with every class, so for that reason, the state of Tennessee will be the first area I'm going to look at.

Quarterbacks

Matthew Hamby- Brentwood Academy, Brentwood (backup in 2009)
Jacob Huesman- Baylor, Chattanooga (19 TDs, 2,570 yards total offense)
Michael Johnson- Briarcrest, Memphis (Threw for 21 TDs, 8 INT)
Kody McKinley- McGavock, Nashville (2,200 total yards, 15 TDs)
Jake Overbey- USJ, Jackson (2,700 passing yards, 44 TDs)
Tyler Rice- Wayne County, Waynesboro (all-state player, not sure on stats)

Summary: Overbey has been a very popular name dating back from his sophomore year and it seems like things are already starting to look up for him. Johnson, Hamby and Rice have visited Vanderbilt as well this past fall and are on the radar. Hamby's kind of like Luke Colbert was last year, someone who I think had more upside as a college prospect that Cody Nelson had this past year, but Nelson had more experience. Not sure what interest level would be in Huesman or McKinley but they'll likely be guys to camp next summer.

Running Backs

Jordan Adams- Pope John Paul II
Jeremiah Bryson- Smyrna
Victor Caro- Brentwood Academy
Robert Clay- Pearl-Cohn
Brenton Davis- Frayser, Memphis
Tyler Franks- MBA
Artaves Gibson- Mitchell, Memphis
De'Ante Hughes- MBA
Julius Lewis- Whitehaven, Memphis
Bryan Merriweather- Clarksville
Demetrius Thomas- Fulton, Knoxville
Darius Turner- McGavock
Justin Williams- Davidson Academy
Terrell Williams- Trezevant, Memphis
Devrin Young- Bearden, Knoxville

Summary: As you can see, there's some running backs worth note in the junior class. However, we think some of these RB's might not be the greatest of students, so VU might have to remove themselves from actively recruiting a few in the coming months. Bryson has already received a few ACC offers and could be an option at either slotback or DB at the next level. Victor Caro and Devrin Young are a little undersized too but we believe VU's looking for guys comparable to Norman and Stacy in this upcoming class so they may get extended looks. Young has said however that he would like to leave the state when he goes to college. Jordan Adams had a good showing at VU's camp last summer and may get some more interest there if he has another good camp in the summer. We think VU is like many in already offering Gibson but we believe they actually see him more as a future linebacker than running back. Julius Lewis is like Gibson in that way too, he could be a better linebacker than running back at the college level. Demetrius Thomas also had a good camp in the summer and could get looks at either RB or DB from VU as time goes on. Justin Williams has always been on VU's radar but it will be interesting to see how things progress after missing most of his junior season due to injury. Darius Turner's a bit of a project from McGavock who we've been following since last year. We think he too could be either a RB or LB/DB at the next level. All of these guys could help themselves by coming to Vanderbilt's camps this summer.

Wide Receiver

Brandon Barron- Memphis East
Tray Becton-Martin- Briarcrest
Ryan Bednar- Ravenwood
Joseph Cain- Manassas, Memphis
Duke Coleman- Whitehaven, Memphis
Vaughn Cornelia- Mt. Juliet
Moses Frazier- Whitehaven, Memphis
Parish Gaines- Smyrna
Barrett Hanks- Briarcrest Christian, Memphis
Kendarion Jennings- Christian Brothers, Memphis
Detavius Johnson- Memphis East
Tino Thomas- Melrose, Memphis

Summary: There might be some more to emerge in the coming months, but as you can see there's a good deal of prospects in the Memphis area in regards to receiver. Some might be more of "tweeners" meaning DB is more likely if their hands don't improve, but some could definitely be impact guys. One guy that I was able to see up close in the summer was Kendarion Jennings and I think he might be the guy to really watch here. Becton-Martin's gotten some early hype, but I think his teammate Hanks might actually be the more steady receiver, just not as overall flashy of athlete. Johnson, Barron and Thomas could be recruited as corners but I also think they have that athleticism you want as a receiver. The guy that most on here know about from either listening to me or VandyButter is Vaughn Cornelia of Mt.Juliet. He's around 6-4, 210 pounds and I really think VU could make a move with him in the future as either a true wideout or possibly a underweight tight end. I do think he'll be on VU's radar throughout, and someone to watch in terms of possible future offer. It seems like VU's probably going to only take one or two receivers in 2011 so I'm not sure if numbers would workout with this group, but I do think if the grades are good with most of them, you could see a couple of offers come their way from VU. Like the QB's and RB's, camp performances could really help a lot of them even more with VU.

Tight Ends/Fullback

Christian Coleman- Milan
Brendan Downs- Tennessee, Bristol
Nino Johnson- Melrose, Memphis
Taharin Tyson- Alcoa
Keilyn Wells- Whitehaven, Memphis

Summary: Wells and Coleman are the class of these guys, though there could always be that raw diamond to pop up as a TE or DE. Wells has all the tools to be an impact on either side and we think he'll start to pull in offers soon. Coleman could also grab offers in the coming months. Johnson and Downs are other big jumbo guys that are going to get looks while Tyson's probably the best true fullback in the class. VU's interested in adding another tight end in 2011, so maybe something happens here.

Offensive Line

Ethan Belasac- Perry County
Mack Crowder- Tennessee, Bristol
Kyler Kerbyson- Knox Catholic
Hunter Long- Briarcrest Christian
Ryan Mack- Wooddale, Memphis
Bryson McCluskey- Riverdale
Mel McDaniel- Whites Creek
Brandon Miller- Tullahoma
Tanner Owen- Cheatham County
Lucas Patrick- Brentwood
Spencer Pulley- ECS, Memphis
Shane Riley- Houston, Memphis

Summary: Again some other guys could emerge here, but we do think there's at least 3 guys who could definitely be in line for offers with one Kerbyson already picking up a VU offer. The other two could be Tanner Owen and Lucas Patrick. Both have received steady attention from VU and could fit into what they are looking for. VU seems to be interested in mostly tackle for 2011 but an inside guy might not be out of the question either. Two other guys that I liked this year was Mel McDaniel of Whites Creek and Bryson McCluskey. Both still need to work on technique and are probably more guards or centers than tackles, but if they camped at VU this summer, it could potentially help. VU's also interested in Hunter Long but he seems bound for UGA if they offer. This class isn't bad, but I do think the 2012 class could potentially be considerably better. It's too bad that VU will not be able to offer Richardson of Ensworth. He's a solid talent but just not what VU's going to be able to recruit it appears.

Defensive Line

Alexandro Antoine- Antioch
Marvin Barton- Whitehaven, Memphis
Anthony Bass- Clarksville Northeast
Deandre Carroll- Kingsbury, Memphis
Cameron Clear- Central, Memphis
Jeremy Cole- Whites Creek
Keenan Crenshaw- Ensworth
Derek Ekmanis- Siegel
Tre Fletcher- Oakland
John Mackey- Baylor, Chattanooga
Lyndell Mitchell-Christian Brothers, Memphis
Matt Murphy- Christian Brothers, Memphis
Brandon Spearman- Fairley, Memphis
Terry Redden- Whitehaven, Memphis
Joseph Townsend- Hendersonville
Darryl Warren- Alcoa

Summary: As you can see there appears to be a lot of D1-A talent along the defensive line this year. However, for Vanderbilt, some of these guys aren't exactly what VU's looking for since the program signed so many possibilities for DT with the 2010 class. So some prospects like Redden, Barton and Townsend might get passed over due to class size and projected need. However, some guys like Antoine, Clear or Fletcher could be real possibilities. Antoine's a hybrid DE/LB from Antioch who the staff's known about for a while and might make a move on in the near future. Fletcher could play multiple positions and may have actually been better than Tim McAdoo this year at Oakland while Clear is a raw type who's really began to draw the interest of colleges as possibly a big DE or possible offensive tackle prospect. VU's main need at DE this year will be for pass rushers, so if there's any in the state, you best be sure that VU will be interested.

Linebackers

Bo Brown- Dickson County
Reggie Clay- Pearl-Cohn
Henry Dickinson- MUS
Jaiari Dunaway- Siegel
Jerrold Frazier- Briarcrest Christian
Tra'Darrius Goff- Columbia Central
AJ Hampton- Hillwood
Charles Harris- Whitehaven, Memphis
David Helton- Baylor, Chattanooga
Trent Johnson- Christian Brothers, Memphis
Adrian Jones- Frayser, Memphis
Delvin Lane- Whitehaven, Memphis
Deon Meadows- Smyrna
Jess Patton- Blackman
Logan Prichard- Portland
Steven Rich- Hardin County
Reggie Tate- Hillcrest
Hunter Thompson- Blackman

Summary: Overall, this class doesn't appear to be as talented as last year's class was supposed to be but there still seems to be a few guys to watch here in Meadows, Dunaway, Helton, Harris and Goff. Meadows reminds me a lot of Chris Marve and I think VU's going to make a play here. Dunaway's pretty rangy and quick and I think VU's going to recruit him this spring. Helton, Harris and Goff have been on the board as well. I think we're going to see an offer or two from VU go out to this group eventually. Other guys who I think could be interesting include Albert "AJ" Hampton, another co-op kid from Hume Fogg who plays football at Hillwood and Delvin Lane, a kid I saw at VU's 7-on-7 camp that impressed me last summer. As always, camps would really help things with this position. I think VU will look to sign two linebackers in 2011.

Defensive Backs/Athletes

Rodney Anderson- Ensworth
Storm Alston- Kirby, Memphis
Lonnie Ballentine- Southwind, Memphis
William BeAird- Brentwood Academy
Kwazel Bertrand- Brentwood Academy
Dhahraun Bivins- North Side, Jackson
Houston Brown- Riverdale
Trevor Carter- Marshall County
Devion Doyle- Riverdale
Trey Ford- Mitchell, Memphis
Landon Grooms- Lavergne
Tracy Hampton- Overton
Ryan Heaston- Cordova
Nick Hill- Pearl-Cohn
Travis Jones- Chattanooga Tyner
Derek King- Brentwood Academy
Justin Klug- Houston, Memphis
Markeise Lockridge- Page
Darius McAdoo- Oakland
Buddy Mitchell- Oakland
William Officer- Lipscomb
Taino Perez- Farragut, Knoxville
Wade Plemons- Loudon
Jon Riegle- MBA
Jonathan Shuler- Stratford
Josh Smith- BGA
Jabriel Washington- Trinity Christian, Jackson
Wesley Whitmore- Kingsbury, Memphis
Trey Wilkins- St.Benedict, Memphis

Summary: I'm not sure what VU's outlook for DB will be for 2011 with all of the signees they've had in the past couple of years but there are some players like Washington and Ballentine that it seems like VU would take regardless. Both are definite BCS/SEC level prospects and VU has offered Washington and may offer Ballentine soon. Other prospects who are interesting and could be ones to watch are Brentwood Academy's Derek King and Kwazel Bertrand, Jonathan Shuler of Stratford, Dharhan Bivins of Jackson North Side, Markeise Lockridge of Page, Storm Alston of Kirby and some others. I think some of these players could potentially be prospects for other positions like running back and receiver, making them even more of a possibility with Vandy. Rodney Anderson of Ensworth, especially, would be an interesting prospect as a possible RB or safety in my opinion.

So there's what I've got with in-state talent. Again, there's more players, particularly to the east that will likely emerge, but I think I've covered mostly middle Tennessee and Memphis with this early watch list.

Remember that Vanderbilt is likely to only sign about 15 prospects this coming year and that the 2011 in-state class is going to be by far better than the 2009 and 2010 classes in my opinion.

Next watch list will feature prospects from the state that gave VU nine prospects on the 2010 signing day...the state of Georgia.