All numbers and rankings are according to Rivals.
The Vols are currently ranked 12th in the Rivals team rankings but that list is not quite up to date as it does not include Pig Howard. SEC schools that are above them right now are Alabama (3), LSU (5), Texas A&M (6), AU (7), UF (8). Below them are South Carolina (15), UGa (17), VU (19), Arkansas (25), MSU (42), Ole Miss (44). UK and Mizzou are not in the top 50.
The Vols currently have 20 commits, so room for five more... Nine four-stars, nine three-stars, and two two-stars. Link to commit list is at the bottom of this post. Blanc and the kicker from Knox are grayshirt candidates if we need space. The only commit that I have read to be wavering is four-star DB LaDarrell McNeil whose lead recruiter is Eric Russell. Dooley has a tie there with his HS coach though.
It is a good class with good numbers at need positions. One glaring thing is that there are no offensive linemen on it. Considering we bring everybody back, that isn't surprising, but one has to wonder if that creates a hole in 2 years when Stone, Fulton, Bullard leave. OL will be a need in the next class.
We need defensive linemen and a gamebreaking running back. The DL names on the board are JUCOs Darrington Sentimore and Denico Autry. Both are SEC caliber players who could come in and push for PT immediately. Right now the scuttle is that UT gets both. There is another longshot in JUCO Daniel McCullers.
At running back, former Clemson RB James Davis's younger brother Mike recently visited and opened up his recruitment by decommitting from UF. A lot of people think FSU but UT has a shot. Even if he goes to FSU, that might open things back up for Mario Pender, who visited here as well.
We will hold a spot for Cordarelle Patterson. He's that kind of player.
Assuming everybody stays committed, a perfect final five would be Sentimore, Autry, McCullers, Davis, and Patterson.
Commit list:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/tennessee/football/recruiting/commitments/2012