Keyton adds skill, stars to Vols’ 2019 commitments
Tennessee has its first commitment from a skill player for the 2019 football recruiting class.
Ramel Keyton, a four-star wide receiver from the Atlanta area, announced his commitment to the Volunteers in a ceremony at his high school Wednesday, choosing them over scholarship offers from several other Southeastern Conference programs.
The 6-foot-3 Marietta High School student-athlete is the seventh known commitment for 2019 for first-year Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Marietta went 8-5 and lost in the third round of the Class AAAAAAA state playoffs in 2017. Keyton was the Blue Devils’ leading receiver with 59 catches for 1,294 yards and 16 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps.
Verbal commitments are nonbinding, and Brown’s first opportunity to sign a national letter of intent will come in December. He joins a class that includes two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen and two tight ends.
Emerson’s role
Pruitt was asked before Tuesday’s Big Orange Caravan stop in Memphis about freshman Greg Emerson, a four-star prospect who spent time on both the defensive and offensive lines during Tennessee’s spring practices.
A knee injury forced Emerson to miss his senior season at North Side High School in Jackson, Tenn.
“He had a really bad injury, and he’s worked really hard to get himself back in shape,” Pruitt said. “There’s a difference between being in shape and being in football shape and learning to bend and practice and do the things you’ve got to do. He done an excellent job this spring of trying to do that. He’s still got a ways to go.”
Emerson was recruited as a defensive lineman, but Tennessee’s most immediate need is on the offensive line.
“He’s still got to continue to work and rehab, and we’ll see,” Pruitt said. “We’ll see which side of the ball he plays on this fall.”
Carvin’s chance
Another freshman lineman and early enrolle, Jerome Carvin, played well enough during spring practices to earn a starting slot on the offensive line in last month’s Orange and White spring game. Pruitt talked about the Memphis native during a media session before the start of Tuesday’s event.
“Jerome is actually a midyear guy, so we had a chance to go through 15 days with him in the offseason, and I see a guy that works really hard,” Pruitt said. “He’s got a great work ethic. He improved as camp went. He played both offensive tackle and guard. So he’s a really good competitor. He has some power in his body. He’ll have an opportunity.”
Jennings’ status
Pruitt said “nothing has changed” with redshirt junior receiver Jauan Jennings, who was kicked off the team in November but reinstated on a conditional basis after Pruitt was hired in December. Jennings did not participate in spring practices after having a minor operation on his knee.