Scooba DE Darel Middleton commits to Tennessee

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It’s been long path back for Knoxville area native Darel Middleton, but he took a step towards returning home with a commitment to Tennessee and new head coach Jeremy Pruitt on Wednesday.


As a high school standout he committed to Tennessee before his sophomore year at Powell. He later backed off the pledge and fielded offers from power programs all over the country while ended his career at Oak Ridge.


He’s also transformed himself into a one-time high school tight end with visions of playing some receiver into mammoth defensive lineman (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) who will add some SEC-caliber size to the Vols in the trenches.


Middleton eventually landed in junior college after high school, he’s currently at East Mississippi C.C., but hopes to be back in Knoxville sooner rather than later.


“I got on the phone with coach Pruitt today and I also talked to coach Rocker. They told me that I’m the type of guy they’re looking for in a defensive lineman in this class that they’re bringing in,” Middleton said.


“They were talking about my film and what I can become from what they’ve seen.”


The catch for the Vols and Middleton is that right now it’s unclear when he’ll be able to suit up in orange. He was originally a member of the 2016 class, but is in the progress of sorting through his academic status.


“Right now it’s questionable for me,” he said of when he would be able to enroll in Knoxville. “We’ve got to go through the process of seeing all my grades and how many hours I’ve already taken. Then we’re going to go from there.


“I’m guessing they’re trying to get me out of here as soon as possible.”


When he does arrive, he expects that local fans will see a different player than the one they might have seen if they happened to watch him in his high school days. And he’s not just talking about his transition into being a hulking defensive lineman.


“I play D-tackle at East Mississippi right now, the three technique and nose sometimes. A couple of years ago, if you saw me play, I was kind of lazy. I needed to put in more effort. I don’t take plays off any more, I’m coming off the ball a lot harder,” he said.


He’s also quick to point out that his experiences since his days as a high school star have made him appreciate a second chance to become a Vol.


“It kind of went to my head when I committed to Tennessee back when I was a freshman. I wasn’t as humble as I should have been,” he said of the experience.


“I really liked Tennessee when I was committed there, but my head wasn’t on straight.


“This new staff, I can tell where they’re going with the whole recruiting thing and bringing in new guys. The way they talk is just different. Like I’ve been through this whole process for six years now and it’s just like they already knew me when they were first talking with me. It was just amazing. It’s just home.”

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