Tennessee Expands 2017 Class to 28 with Florida WR Josh Palmer
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Volunteers 2017 class once again seems never ending adding new verbal commitments left and right. Last week Tennessee accepted the verbal commitment of Virginia defensive end Ryan Thaxton and then included Florida running back Tim Jordan over the weekend. On Tuesday the group swelled to 28 with another Florida talent climbing aboard, receiver Josh Palmer.
Palmer was the second leading receiver in 2016 for St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The Fort Lauderdale area squad ran rough over opposing 7A competition winning a 7A state title with a 33-25 win over Plant. Palmer pulled down 32 passes covering 506 yards with eight scores earning three-star status from 247Sports.
The 6-2, 200 pound, talent had 15 reported offers on the table when he committed to the Volunteers. Syracuse initially won Palmer’s commitment on June 22 but lost him on Jan. 13, the same day he officially visited Knoxville. Speculation then had Palmer heading to Tennessee then. UCLA hosted Palmer over the weekend. Fans waited for an official announcement which came via Twitter with a post reading, “Committed!! Thankful for the help and support put into this decision. It’s all crumbs from here on out.” Palmer also posted a statement:
247Sports rates Tennessee’s 2017 class No. 11 in the nation, No. 6 overall in the SEC. Rivals rates the Volunteers class at No. 9 with 27 recruits not having updated their standings at the time of this post.
Tennessee Volunteers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (28)
CB Terrell Bailey, 6-0, 175, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA
CB Cheyenne Labruzza, 5-11, 186, Albany HS, Albany, LA
CB Shawn Shamburger, 5-11, 188, Colquitt County, Moultrie, GA
SS Maleik Gray, 6-2, 205, LaVergne HS, LaVergne, TN
SS Theo Jackson, 6-2, 176, Overton HS, Nashville, TN
LB Will Ignont, 6-2, 230, Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
LB Solon Page III, 6-1.5, 192, Kell HS, Marietta, GA
LB Shanon Reid, 6-1.5, 205, Dunbar HS, Fort Myers, FL
DE LaTrell Bumphus, 6-3.5, 232, Hardin County, Savannah, TN
DE Deandre Johnson, 6-3, 239, Miami Southridge, Miami, FL
DE Ryan Thaxton, 6-5, 230, St. Stephen’s HS, Alexandria, VA
DT Kivon Bennett, 6-3, 265, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL
DT Matthew Butler, 6-4, 265, Garner HS, Garner, NC
DT Eric Crosby, 6-1, 285, Ocean Lakes HS, Virginia Beach, VA
OT K’Rojhn Calbert, 6-5, 290, Warren County HS, McMinnville, TN
OT Trey Smith, 6-5.5, 310, Univ. School of Jackson, Jackson, TN
OG Riley Locklear, 6-5, 290, Spring Valley HS, Huntington, WV
TE James Brown, 6-4, 218, Jones HS, Orlando, FL
RB Ty Chandler, 5-11.5, 195, Montgomery Bell, Nashville, TN
RB Timothy Jordan, 5-11, 189, Bartow HS, Bartow, FL
QB Will McBride, 6-1, 190, Clear Springs, League City, TX
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
WR Josh Palmer, 6-2, 200, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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: Syracuse.com; Josh Palmer lays out for a pass.