Tennessee Adds Immediate Impact JUCO 4-Star Arizona DE Jonathan Kongbo

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Volunteers have continued their resurgence on the field upping their seven-wins from the 2014 season to an 8-4 record in the 2015 regular season with an opportunity to add another victory in a yet to be announced bowl game. The wins on the field maybe grabbing attention of recruits across the nation but the Tennessee coaching staff has been cold on the recruiting trail last landing verbal commit Desmond Henderson on Sept. 17. The two month-plus cold streak is now over after the Vols picked up a commitment from Arizona Western defensive end Jonathan Kongbo.

Kongbo has the potential to be an instant contributor to Tennessee’s defense next season. Listed at 6’5”, 230 pounds, the Surrey, British Columbia area native racked up 49 tackles for the Matadors with a team-high 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Adding to Kongbo’s value, he is a redshirt freshman with three years left to play three.

The journey for Kongbo from Canada to Tennessee started with a freshman season at University of Wyoming. Colleges liked Kongbo’s abilities with 18 offers reportedly handed out. Among the 18 included Alabama, Cal, Nebraska, South Florida, Louisville, Mississippi State, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Auburn, Pitt, and Washington.

The Volunteers now have 18 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class with 9-10 of those recruits slated to play defense, depending on how TaDarryl Marshall is used once in Knoxville. Tennessee has looked to the junior college ranks to fill some immediate needs landing verbal commitments from WR Jeff George, DT Alexis Johnson, CB Henderson, and Kongbo.

Tennessee 2016 Recruiting Class

ATH TaDarryl Marshall, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Leeds High School, Leeds, AL

CB Desmond Henderson, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Dodge City C.C., Dodge City, KS

CB Marquill Osborne, 5’11”, 183 lbs, Hough High School, Charlotte, NC

DE Jonathan Kongbo, 6’5”, 260 lbs, Arizona Western C.C., Yuma, AZ

DE Chidi Okonya, 6’5”, 230 lbs, Riverdale High School, Riverdale, GA

DT D’Andre Christmas-Giles, 6’4”, 290 lbs, St. Augustine High School, New Orleans, LA

DT Alexis Johnson, 6’4”, 295 lbs, Fort scott C.C., Fort Scott, KS

LB Daniel Bituli, 6’3”, 228 lbs, Nashville Christian, Nashville, TN

LB Ja’Quain Blakely, 6’2”, 210 lbs, Colquitt County, Moultrie, GA

LB Timothy Hart, 6’1”, 220 lbs, Memphis University, Memphis, TN

OT Ryan Johnson, 6’6”, 275 lbs, Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, TN

QB Jarrett Guarantano, 6’4”, 188 lbs, Bergen Catholic, Oradell, NJ

RB Carlin Fils-Aime, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Naples High School, Naples, FL

TE Devante Brooks, 6’5”, 225 lbs, St. John’s College, Washington D.C.

TE Austin Pope, 6’4”, 218 lbs, Chritian Academy of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN

WR Jeff George, 6’6”, 190 lbs, Dodge City C.C., Dodge City, KS

WR Brandon Johnson, 6’3”, 172 lbs, American Heritage HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL

WR Corey Henderson, 6’1”, 170 lbs, Evangel Christian, Shreveport, LA

Photo credit: theprovince.com; Jonathan Kongbo