Tennessee has to replace every starting offensive and defensive lineman from last season, so coach Butch Jones signed 11 linemen in a class of 32 on Wednesday.
Jones and his staff didn’t have time to assemble a full group of recruits in 2013 because he was hired about two months before signing day.
He said his staff used leftover scholarships from last year to finish off this large class — including 14 early enrollees – which ranks in the top 10 nationally, according to most recruiting services.
“We were able to build upon our deficiencies,” Jones told CBSSports.com. “I also have to remind everyone that you can’t fix all of your problems in one recruiting class. We’re still a couple of classes away from being where we need to be at Tennessee.”
The Volunteers made strides under Jones in 2013 despite finishing 5-7.
They upset South Carolina and lost to Georgia in overtime, but struggled in a late four-game losing streak that included losses to Alabama, Auburn, Missouri and Vanderbilt.
Tennessee benefited from James Franklin leaving Vanderbilt to coach Penn State by signing defensive tackle Michael Sawyers (6-foot-3, 300 pounds), who originally committed to the Commodores.
The Volunteers signed nine of the top 11 players in the state (according to 247Sports), including Sawyers, who is from Nashville.
Running back Jalen Hurd, receiver Josh Malone, safety Todd Kelly Jr. and defensive end Derek Barnett are among the in-state players who signed and could play as freshmen.
Jones said he also expects an immediate contribution from offensive tackle Dontavius Blair (6-8, 306), who signed out of Lincoln (Miss.) Community College.
“We had some losses up front,” Jones said. “We really feel we’ve been able to address those needs.”
Tennessee signed four players from Georgia, including safety Cortez McDowell (Locust Grove), running back Treyvon Paulk (Milton) and twins Elliott and Evan Berry, defensive backs from Creekside. Their older brother Eric was an All-American defensive back at Tennessee who now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s one thing to recruit these individuals, but the next (thing) is to develop them,” Jones said. “To develop them into the best people they can possibly be, into the best players they can possibly be.”
Kentucky makes strides: The Wildcats were 2-10 and 0-8 in the SEC in 2013, but coach Mark Stoops made strides this year, signing 28 players, including highly coveted defensive tackle Matt Elam.
Alabama severely wanted Elam (6-5, 350), but Stoops kept Kentucky’s top high school player in the state.
“Elam was the key to this class,” he told ESPN.
Kentucky also signed 11 players from Ohio and players from 10 states.
Rich get richer: Alabama signed what is thought to be the nation's top class, which includes offensive tackle Cameron Robinson (West Monroe, La.), one of 19 ESPN 300 signees.
Rashaan Evans, the No. 2 outside linebacker, according to ESPN, surprised many by signing with the Crimson Tide out of Auburn High, which caused a stir that was heightened when Evans’ bio page surfaced on the Auburn athletic department’s website.
Other top signees include defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, cornerback Tony Brown and safety Laurence Jones.
Auburn builds on success: Auburn lost on Evans, but received a boost from highly ranked offensive guard Braden Smith (Olathe, Kan.) and defensive lineman Andrew Williams (Eagle's Landing Christian).
The Tigers also signed D’haquille Williams, the country’s top-ranked junior-college receiver, who was an early enrollee, and top cornerbacks Stephen Roberts and Kalvaraz Bessent (Camden County) as part of a class that ranks in the top 10 nationally, according to recruiting services.
