The state of Tennessee has a lot of highly-rated talent in it for the 2020 recruiting cycle. According to 247Sports, there are 11 players rated as four-star prospects or higher in the 2020 class in the state of Tennessee, and the state has 17 of the top-500 overall prospects. One of those four-star recruits just included the Vols as one of his top teams in his recruitment.
Marcus Henderson is a four-star offensive tackle who plays for Memphis University School. He’s one of the top players in the state of Tennessee in the 2020 class, and he released his list of top schools and included the Vols on that list.
Top 12??. pic.twitter.com/EysvY0ZRaM
— Marcus B. Henderson III™ (@mbh_III) December 31, 2018
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Henderson is just inside the top-100 overall players in the 2020 class, coming in at No. 99 in the country. He’s also rated as the No. 12 offensive tackle and No. 6 player in the state of Tennessee. He holds offers from all the teams in his top 12, and that includes schools like Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Penn State, LSU, and others.
Henderson unofficially visited Tennessee for the Florida game this past season, and he took an unofficial visit to Knoxville back in late April as well. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive tackle was one of the first 2020 recruits Jeremy Pruitt offered when he took over as head coach of Tennessee back in December of 2017. Pruitt extended a scholarship offer to Henderson on December 15th of 2017, and he’s been made a high priority ever since.
The four-star, in-state tackle also recently got to meet Vol legend Peyton Manning along with 2019 Vol running back signee and fellow Memphis prospect Eric Gray.
We GL?BAL now . #GBO? ??!… pic.twitter.com/8S31Bjy76w
— Marcus B. Henderson III™ (@mbh_III) December 22, 2018
While watching Henderson’s junior year highlights, it becomes apparent quickly why Tennessee and top programs around college football are after him. Henderson plays with tenacity and is a mauler when run blocking. He opens up holes for his running backs with ease, and he’s a ferocious blocker. He’s not just excellent in the run game, though; there’s a reason he plays the tackle position. He has a quick first step and a solid base. He moves very well for his size and possesses good instincts. Henderson has the perfect frame for the next level, and he has all the tools coaches want from offensive linemen.
Tennessee will continue to make Henderson one of their biggest targets in the 2020 cycle, and they’ll work to get him back on campus as much as they possibly can in 2019. The Vols will sign a lot of offensive linemen in the 2019 class, but they’ll need several more in the 2020 class too. Pruitt and his staff will try and make sure Henderson is one of those linemen in the next cycle.
