Tennessee Vols among top schools for elite 5-star recruit
The Tennessee Vols are one of several programs still in the mix for an elite 2024 five-star recruit from Missouri. Five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri revealed his top 10 schools this week and Tennessee made the cut, along with Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon, Georgia, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas. Nwaneri, 6-foot-5/250 lbs from Lees […]
The Tennessee Vols are one of several programs still in the mix for an elite 2024 five-star recruit from Missouri.
Five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri revealed his top 10 schools this week and Tennessee made the cut, along with Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon, Georgia, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas.
Nwaneri, 6-foot-5/250 lbs from Lees Summit, MO, is ranked in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 4 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class.
Scouting report via 247Sports: Has verified size, length and testing data that is impressive for a player of his build and age. Rare change of direction and agility numbers at his size. Was a good young prospect as a freshman and sophomore but showed big developmental strides on the field as a junior. Quickness off the ball and foot speed in pursuit were improved and those qualities of his are at a high national level. Used his hands better and when combined with his physical gifts, makes him very tough to block. Does not let offensive linemen get clean punches off on him and is able to turn himself and get skinny to help with that. Can shade inside or play on the EDGE and is going to be able to project to any defensive scheme. Based on his size, strongside end or 3-4 defensive end are where we project him although he is rare enough athlete that he can be edge pass-rusher at his size. If the development we saw between sophomore and junior year continues, he is an elite national prospect who will be an impact college player and early draft choice.
Nwaneri told On3 last month that Tennessee is one of four programs that will receive an official visit (Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon are receiving official visits, too).
The Missouri native, who is being recruited to Tennessee by defensive line coach Rodney Garner, visited UT in January. That visit made a big impression on Nwaneri.
“I already knew from my first visit that it was gonna be a spot that I was going to consider,” said Nwaneri to On3. “Their visit was just another plus. Ever since they started recruiting me, they’ve been consistent. Every time I’m on campus, it just seems like a place I can go and be successful.”
This is going to be a tough recruiting battle for the Vols to win — but that's usually the case with five-star recruits — but it certainly sounds like Tennessee is very much in the mix to land a game-changing defensive lineman in Nwaneri.
