re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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It didn't take long for new Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt to make an impression in the Mobile-area.

The Vols offered a slew of Coastal Alabama underclassmen on Tuesday, including St. Paul's running backs Jordon Ingram and A.J. Finley, McGill-Toolen noseguard Darius Cox and Vigor defensive end Desmond Little.

"Jeremy always has personally recruited Mobile," St. Paul's coach Steve Mask said. "He recruited this area when he was at Florida State and Georgia and both times at Alabama. I think he recognizes the fact that there are a lot of really good players here, and he wants Tennessee to be a presence."

In the last week, numerous reports have indicated that Kevin Sherrer, a former South Alabama defensive coordinator, is leaving Kirby Smart's staff at Georgia to join Pruitt's. Although Tennessee has yet to make an official announcement, Sherrer was in Mobile on Tuesday recruiting for the Vols.

He also offered, among others, UMS-Wright wide receivers Keyshawn Woodyard and Edwin White, Spanish Fort athlete Kris Abrams-Draine, Mobile Christian freshman LB Deontae Lawson and junior athlete Eric Poellnitz and Daphne cornerback Christian Williams. He also visited Williamson athlete Roger McCreary, who plans to visit Knoxville in January.

Early returns on the Coast seem to be favorable for Tennessee.

"I'm very excited about it," Williams, a junior, said of the offer. "I do see it as a potential place to go and play. A lot of people have told me that the environment there is very good."

"It's exciting," Abrams-Draine, a versatile sophomore, said. "Coach Pruitt is one of my favorite coaches."

UMS-Wright head coach Terry Curtis said Pruitt clearly knows what he is doing.

"He's just trying to get Tennessee's name out there," Curtis said. "He knows he is not going to get all these guys. But if he gets three or even one, that would be big. Jeremy wants people to know he is going to recruit Mobile. Kevin loves Mobile. It's a natural place for them to recruit."

Mask expects Pruitt to be "outstanding" at Tennessee.

"He won't forget his roots," Mask said. "He has a high school background, and he'll have a big presence in this state. Honestly, high school football in Tennessee is not that strong. You have to recruit nationally to be successful, and Jeremy will do a good job. I think you'll see that big, orange 'T' down here a lot more often."

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