1. Deandre Johnson, DE
Although he was largely unheralded when he committed to the Vols, Deandre Johnson is the most underrated player in Tennessee’s 2017 class.
Johnson is an early enrollee who was once committed to Mississippi State before switching his pledge to the Vols. Johnson has an athletic 6-foot-3, 235 pound frame and plays with great speed and shows off his versatility in his highlight film.
Johnson’s style of play and frame reminds me of a current Vol: Darrell Taylor. No, Taylor hasn’t had a chance to live up to his potential yet as a Vol, but he’ll have that opportunity this season. And I think Vol fans will like what they see from Taylor. I also think Johnson has the potential to be like Taylor.
Johnson may be a forgotten player among the Vols’ defensive linemen signees, but he has the potential to out-play his three-star rating.
