The Tennessee Volunteers football team welcomed a fresh batch of talent on the practice field for the 2024 season, blending a mix of 14 high school freshmen and 8 seasoned transfers into the squad.
Let’s take a detailed look at each of these new faces, with jersey numbers, heights, weights, and some standout facts.
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- The Vols welcome a total of 22 new players, including highly-ranked freshmen and seasoned transfers.
- The newcomers include quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive backs, offensive and defensive linemen, and tight ends, showcasing talent in all areas.
- With high national and state rankings, the new recruits stand out as some of the most stand-out talents, indicating an exciting chapter for the Vols’ upcoming season.
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Meet the Vol’s Future: 2024 Freshmen
- QB Jake Merklinger (No. 12): At 6’3″ and 205 lbs, this four-star quarterback comes from Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia. Apart from being a great quarterback, he’s also a top prospect, ranked No. 200 nationally and No. 12 among quarterbacks.
- WR Braylon Staley (No. 14): Standing 6’0″ and weighing 180 lbs, Staley is a four-star wide receiver from Strom Thurmond High School in Aiken, South Carolina. His prowess on the field earned him the No. 83 overall rank and No. 17 among wide receivers.
- RB Peyton Lewis (No. 22): At 6’1″ and 200 lbs, Lewis is a four-star running back from Salem High School in Salem, Virginia, ranked No. 123 overall and No. 10 at his position.
- DB Boo Carter (No. 23): This 5’11”, 185 lbs athlete from Bradley Central High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a four-star talent ranked No. 110 overall and the No. 2 prospect in Tennessee.
- Edrees Farooq (No. 26): A three-star safety from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, Farooq measures 6’0″ and weighs 190 lbs. He ranks as the No. 55 safety nationally.
- DB Kaleb Beasley (No. 28): Beasley, a 6’0″, 180 lbs cornerback from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, is a four-star recruit ranked No. 125 overall and No. 17 at cornerback.
- DB Marcus Goree Jr. (No. 34): Another Bradley Central alum, Goree Jr., is a 6’1″, 175 lbs three-star safety ranked No. 52 among safeties nationwide.
- LB Edwin Spillman (No. 47): The 6’1″, 215 lbs linebacker from Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, is a four-star prospect ranked No. 338 overall.
- OL William Satterwhite (No. 50): A four-star offensive lineman from Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio, Satterwhite stands 6’3″ and weighs 300 lbs, ranked No. 280 overall.
- DL Kellen Lindstrom (No. 56): At 6’5″ and 240 lbs, Lindstrom is a four-star defensive lineman from Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri, ranked No. 320 overall.
- OL Max Anderon (No. 71): This 6’5″, 310 lbs four-star offensive lineman from Reedy High School in Frisco, Texas, is ranked No. 319 overall.
- OL Jesse Perry (No. 72): Perry is a 6’6″, 295 lbs, three-star offensive lineman from Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, ranked No. 50 among offensive tackles.
- OL Gage Ginther (No. 78): A 6’5″, 295 lbs three-star offensive tackle from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, Ginther is ranked No. 42 at his position.
- WR Mike Matthews (No. 89): Matthews, a 6’1″, 186 lbs five-star wide receiver from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, is ranked No. 26 overall.
Seasoned Players: Latest Transfers to Vol’s
- WR Chris Brazzell II (No. 11): The 6’5″, 195 lbs Tulane transfer caught 44 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was a three-star prospect out of Midland Legacy High School in Midland, Texas.
- DB Jalen McMurray (No. 12): A Temple defensive back, McMurray stands 6’0″ and weighs 180 lbs, with 90 tackles and one interception over the last three seasons.
- DB Jermod McCoy (No. 13): At 6’0″ and 190 lbs, McCoy, a transfer from Oregon State, had 31 tackles and two interceptions last season.
- TE Holden Staes (No. 19): The 6’4″, 242 lbs tight end comes from Notre Dame, bringing with him the experience of catching 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games this season. He announced his decision to join Tennessee on December 15.
- DB Jakobe Thomas (No. 30): Thomas is a 6’2″, 192 lbs defensive back transferring from Middle Tennessee State. Over the last two seasons, he has tallied 108 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and four interceptions, proving to be a real force on the field.
- OL Lance Heard (No. 53): At 6’6″ and 340 lbs, Heard is a five-star prospect from Monroe, Louisiana, who was ranked No. 11 overall nationally in the 2023 recruiting class.
- TE Miles Kitselman (No. 87): At 6’5″ and 253 lbs, Kitselman transferred from Alabama, where he appeared in 13 games last season, mainly contributing on special teams. He committed to Tennessee on January 12.
- DL Jaxson Moi (No. 99): The 6’2″, 300 lbs defensive lineman from Oceanside, California, has played 24 games over the last two seasons at Stanford, recording 37 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks.
The 2024 group of new Tennessee Volunteers football team players includes talented freshmen and seasoned transfers. This is great news, making the exciting 2023-24 College Football Games season even better.
This group fills important spots on the team and brings new energy and drive. With Coach Josh Heupel leading them, these new players are ready to make a big difference in the next season.
