Saturday, July 11, 2009

Vanderbilt gets verbal commitment from Jared Morse, its second three-star defensive tackle of the 2010 class


Have I mentioned that Bobby Johnson's putting together a stellar recruiting class?

Here's further evidence: Johnson has never signed a three-star high school player listed as a defensive tackle. Today, he got his SECOND verbal commitment from a three-star defensive tackle, Jared Morse of Oxford, Ala. (He did get a verbal last year from Darrius McMullin of Alabama, who never signed with the Commodores.) The first this year was Kyle Woestmann of Georgia.

Morse is 6-3, 260 pounds, and gets three stars from scouts.com and a 77 from ESPN, which describes his game as having a "blue collar feel" and calls him a nice combination of "toughness and smarts." Rivals.com hasn't rated him yet, but you can expect Morse to get three stars from them too. Morse has offers from Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky. (Kentucky has to be worried, with only two verbals so far to Vanderbilt's 13.) He also got offers from La Tech, Troy, UAB and Tulane.

ESPN says Morse has a long, wide frame that's capable of putting on more weight. He also runs a 4.9 40 yard dash. We've also noticed that he averaged 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a junior on the Oxford High basketball team. You've got to love a defensive tackle with the footwork and quickness to play basketball.

Vanderbilt has plenty of defensive ends waiting in the wings, but the Commodores have always needed defensive tackles. Last season, they played three — Greg Billinger, Adam Smotherman and T.J. Greenstone. An SEC team that played only three defensive interior linemen all season? Unbelievable, and it's even more unbelievable considering Vandy won half its conference games.

Now Vandy's trying to land three-star DT Vince Taylor of Hattiesburg, Miss., who's also got offers from Tennessee and Miss State, as well as Duke and his hometown Southern Miss.

According to scout.com, Vanderbilt has offered scholarships to five defensive tackle prospects in this recruiting class:

• Kyle Woestmann of Georgia, No. 42 DT prospect in nation. Committed to Vanderbilt.
• Wilson Love of Alabama, No. 47. Committed to Alabama.
• Jeremiah Jackson of Alabama, No. 57. Committed to Arkansas.
• Vince Taylor of Mississippi, No. 71. Undecided.
• Jared Morse of Alabama, No. 84. Committed to Vanderbilt.

Not bad, huh?

2 comments:

Unknown said...

According to rivals and ESPN we have also offered Garrison Smith and he is showing some interest in that hes named his top 21 (according to rivals) and his top ten (according to ESPN) and Vandy made the cut.

DIMON KENDRICK-HOLMES said...

Thanks, Aaron. Can you imagine if Vanderbilt got the No. 2 DT prospect in America?