Tennessee 2017 Class nears Completion with WR Jordan Murphy
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Volunteers 2017 recruiting class added commitment No. 22 on Thursday when Mississippi four-star (Rivals) receiver Jordan Murphy committed to Tennessee.
Murphy made waves for Hattiesburg High School scorching 5A competition for 844 yards off 50 receptions with 11 touchdowns during his junior year. The 6’1”, 168 pound, speedster further showed off his open-field abilities on special teams returning 22 kickoffs for 248 yards and 25 punts for 152 yards.
College coaches saw the many ways Murphy could help their roster in the years to come. Tennessee offered in March, just ahead of Murphy’s unofficial visit to LSU. Then the Vols fought off scholarship offers from Alabama, Memphis, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Auburn, Louisiana-Lafayette, and LSU for Murphy’s commitment.
Murphy posted his announcement on Twitter reading, “I have Decided This Where Ima [sic] Spend My Years In College!! This Is The School I have Committed too!! #VOLSFORLIFE.”
Tennessee has pieced their 2017 class together in spurts. The biggest push was over Father’s Day receiving eight commitments at that time. Offensive lineman Riley Locklear was the first July commitment (July 8) but then the Volunteers coaching staff reeled in four players from the 18-20th seeing defensive tackles Breyon and Brandon Gaddy pledge along with cornerback CJ Cotman, and Murphy.
Tennessee Volunteers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (22)
CB CJ Cotman, 5-11, 180, Central Catholic, Clearwater, FL
CB Cheyenne Labruzza, 5-11, 186, Albany HS, Albany, LA
SS Maleik Gray, 6-2, 205, LaVergne HS, LaVergne, TN
SS Jaquan Henderson, 6-1, 205, Newton HS, Covington, GA
SS Theo Jackson, 6-2, 176, Overton HS, Nashville, TN
LB De’Morreal “Mo” Burnam, 6-3, 218, Salem HS, Conyers, GA
LB Solon Page III, 6-1.5, 192, Kell HS, Marietta, GA
DE LaTrell Bumphus, 6-3.5, 232, Hardin County, Savannah, TN
DE Tre Lawson, 6-6, 247, North Augusta HS, North Augusta, SC
DT Kivon Bennett, 6-3, 265, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL
DT Eric Crosby, 6-1, 285, Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach, VA
DT Brandon Gaddy, 6-5, 289, Sullivan Catholic, Virginia Beach, VA
DT Breyon Gaddy, 6-5, 335, Sullivan Catholic, Virginia Beach, VA
OL Riley Locklear, 6-5, 290, Spring Valley HS, Huntington, WV
OT Jordan Tucker, 6-7, 335, Roswell HS, Roswell, GA
TE Chase Rogers, 6-2.5, 230, St. Stanislaus HS, Bay St. Louis, MS
WR/OLB Marquez Bembry, 6-3, 214, Mount Vernon Presbyterian, Atlanta, GA
WR Princeton Fant, 6-2, 208, LaVergne HS, LaVergne, TN
WR Jacquez Jones, 5-11, 165, Clearwater HS, Clearwater, FL
WR Jordan Murphy, 6-1, 168, Hattiesburg HS, Hattiesburg, MS
ATH Trey Coleman, 5-11, 203, West Monroe HS, West Monroe, LA
K Brent Cimaglia, 6-0, 215, Fred J Page HS, Franklin, TN
Photo credit: twitter.com; Jordan Murphy at Tennessee.