Tennessee Flips Miami 3-Star DE Deandre Johnson away from Mississippi State
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Tennessee wasted no time worrying about the decommitment of Georgia (Salem) linebacker Mo Burnam on Monday quickly adding Miami three-star defensive end Deandre Johnson to fill spot No. 25 in the class.
Johnson was a big part of Miami Southridge High School’s 12-2 squad that took home an 8A Florida title this season. The Spartans ran through Southwest, Palmetto, Coral Gables, Deerfield Beach, and toppled Dr. Phillips 14-10 for the top honors.
Tennessee had been in a long battle for Johnson predating an offer extending on June. 9. The 6-3, 239 pound, end camped with both Tennessee and Mississippi State over the summer giving the Bulldogs his commitment on July 31. The Volunteers staff never gave up on him convincing him to take an official visit on Nov. 11. MSU hosted their target on Dec. 2 but something fell apart by Dec. 11 when he decommitted from the Bulldogs siding with the Volunteers on Monday.
Johnson announced his decision on Twitter simply stating, “I’m a Vol Baby !! #GBO VLF.”
Other teams to offer Johnson included Auburn, Georgia Tech, Indiana, North Carolina State, Memphis, Maryland, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kansas State, Cincinnati, South Florida, Temple, and Cal.
Rivals rates Tennessee’s 2017 class No. 9 in the nation with nine four-star recruits and 16 three-star players. 247Sports sees the haul at No. 11 overall and No. 6 in the SEC.
Tennessee Volunteers 2017 Verbal Commitment List (25)
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 Tre Lawson, 6-6, 247, North Augusta HS, North Augusta, SC
DT Kivon Bennett, 6-3, 265, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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
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; Deandre Johnson visiting Tennessee.