Tennessee Volunteers 2017 Class Hits 27 with Virginia DE Ryan Thaxton
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Tennessee pushed their 2017 recruiting class to 27 commits on Tuesday with the addition of Virginia defensive end Ryan Thaxton.
Thaxton is an athletic end capable of lining up on either side of the line that should be able to provide pressure off the edge for the Volunteers while setting the edge against the run. The 6-5, 230 pound, playmaker worked his way into three-star recruiting status with St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School as a constant presence in the opposition’s backfield. Some reports already have Thaxton up to 250 pounds making him a candidate to push for playing time earlier than later.
The Alexandria area native had 14 reported offers narrowing down his list to four with Tennessee, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Rutgers listed as his favorites. Thaxton took an official to Rutgers on Dec. 9 and visited Knoxville over the weekend. The verbal commitment shuts down scheduled official visits to N.C. State (Jan. 20) and Ole Miss (Jan. 27).
Thaxton posted his commitment on Twitter writing, “Blessed to say that I’m am [sic] now committed to the University of Tennessee. #GBO.” Thaxton also posted a statement:
247Sports rates Tennessee’s 2017 class No. 11 in the country, No. 6 in the SEC. Rivals sees the haul slight better at No. 10 in the nation.
Tennessee Volunteers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (27)
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 Jaquan Henderson, 6-1, 205, Newton HS, Covington, GA
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
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
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: scout.com; No. 56 Ryan Thaxton.