Mike Strange: Bob Shoop was all in on this class
A year ago at signing day, Bob Shoop was the new guy in a recruiting cycle that had been in play long before he arrived as Tennessee's defensive coordinator. He focused on three prospects and helped steer Nigel Warrior, Jonathon Kongbo and Tyler Byrd to the dotted line.
The 2017 class that came to fruition Wednesday – at least the 14 defensive prospects – has Shoop's finger prints all over it. He was along for the entire ride.
"I feel much more comfortable now,'' Shoop said Wednesday night at the signing day celebration at the Tennessee Theatre. "I'm looking forward to year two and putting my stamp on things.
"That includes recruiting, saying this is what we're looking for in a tackle, this is what we're looking for at defensive end. This is what we're looking for at linebacker. The body type, speed and skill set we're looking for at these different positions.''
The Vols' class missed the top 10, according to national recruiting analysts, falling somewhere between 11 and 17 in different media outlets. Shoop sees a bunch of guys who can make plays, though.
"It went as planned,'' he said. "Hopefully we evaluated well because we got the guys we wanted. We addressed each level of the defense.''
Shoop and the other assistant coaches took turns evaluating the new signees before an audience of fans. Whatever disappointment the crowd might have at finishing behind annual rivals Alabama, Georgia and fast-closing Florida in the rankings was muted by the parade of highlight videos and introductions of mid-term enrollees. Trey Smith entered to loud cheers.
And, naturally, there were glowing reviews of the 27 new Vols.
Shoop and director of player personnel Bob Welton both singled out the three linebackers.
"They were the guys we wanted,'' Shoop said. "We got A, B and C.
"Solon Page, I've always said, is one of the most underrated players in the class of 2017. Will Ignont is one of the top middle linebackers in Alabama and the Southeast region. Shanon Reid, to be on campus and working hard, is really exciting.''
One of the most desirable attributes in a Shoop evaluation is mobility. Defensive end Marquez Bembry of Stone Mountain, Ga., ran a 10.67 100 meters in track season. Using basketball references, Shoop likes defensive ends who look like power forwards. Explosive. Cornerbacks are shooting guards. Length, ball skills, confidence.
The Vols badly need help at corner. Shawn Shamburger, Terrell Bailey and Cheyenne Labruzza will have a chance to compete for snaps quickly. A video of Shamburger going 100 yards for a pick-six after an athletic goal-line interception drew oohs.
The celebration wasn't restricted to new players. Head coach Butch Jones shed some light on the hiring of his two new assistants, secondary coach Charlton Warren and quarterbacks coach Mike Canales.
"I interviewed 10 quarterback coaches,'' Jones said, "five from the NFL, five from college. We put Chico (Canales) through the ringer. I knew in the beginning it would be him but I wanted him to prove it to everyone.
"When I talk to high school coaches I ask them which recruiters recruit their school the best and why. Coach Warren's name kept coming up.''
There may be a new defensive line coach to introduce before long. It is speculated Steve Stripling might step into an off-the-field role. If so, he was a team player to the end. When weather and travel hassles delayed Jones' home visit to Deandre Johnson in Miami until 11:45 p.m., Stripling, who had arrived at 7:30, held down the fort.
Said Stripling, "We watched the pregame, an entire NFL game, the postgame and started in on cartoons.''
Whatever it takes. Shoop's words will be put to the test of time. If the Vols got the guys they wanted, they better have evaluated the right guys.
Mike Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at Strangemike44.