Van Jefferson, a four-star wide receiver from Brentwood, Tennessee, was one of the Vols’ top remaining targets heading into the start of the 2014 football season. Jefferson had narrowed down his college choices from 14 scholarship offers to three: Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia. The Vols were confident they would land the No. 2 overall player in the state heading into Monday.
Jefferson, however, had other plans as the No. 103 overall prospect chose Georgia, electing to move further away from home.
Jefferson cited UT’s depth at wide receiver as one of the main reasons he elected not to commit to the Volunteers.
While Tennessee missed out on one of the more talented in-state products for the 2015 class, they received good news from the recruiting trail Saturday.
Venzell Boulware, a three-star offensive lineman from Fairburn, Georgia, celebrated his 17th birthday Saturday by committing to the Vols. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound lineman gives the Vols their 23rd known commitment for the 2015 class and their fourth from a projected offensive lineman.
Upcoming visitors: The Vols are expecting several visits from top recruits in the next couple months, ranging from prospects in the 2015 class to a QB in the 2017 class.
Four-star defensive back Donte Vaughn of the 2016 class told 247Sports’ director of recruiting, Barton Simmons, he plans to visit Tennessee on Sunday for its opener against Utah State. He visited the Vols this summer for their final camp of the summer, and he told Simmons the trip to Tennessee “stood out” among his other visits.
Vaughn, a native of Memphis, is the No. 161 overall prospect and No. 14 cornerback in the class of 2016.
Joining Vaughn this Sunday will be four-star quarterback Hunter Johnson.
Johnson, the No. 9 overall recruit and No. 1 pro-style quarterback for the 2017 class, told 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong he plans on attending the Vols’ opening game of 2014 Sunday after attending one of their camps this summer.
The Vols extended Johnson a scholarship offer after his performance in the camp, and he has already picked up offers from Kentucky and Purdue and is receiving attention from other top programs, such as Notre Dame.
