Tennessee Vols: Jeremy Pruitt's vision for program key to signing JJ Peterson
Dan Fleser
Jeremy Pruitt's vision for Tennessee's football program mirrors what he experienced at Alabama as the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator.
The Vols' first-year coach persuaded JJ Peterson to see UT in the same fashion, which was instrumental in the highly regarded linebacker signing with the Vols on Wednesday. The 6-foot-2 1/2, 238-pound prospect from Colquitt County High in Moultrie, Ga., is rated the No. 3 outside linebacker nationally by the 247Sports Composite.
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Peterson was the highest ranked prospect joining Tennessee on national signing day. He committed to the Vols on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
"Jeremy sold (JJ) on the fact that he's going to do the same thing at Tennessee," Colquitt County coach Rush Propst said. "Jeremy will structure things. They'll have a tight ship. He'll demand a lot."
Propst believes that such a foundation will be vital to Peterson's development.
"His deal is going to be consistency," Propst said, "getting better every day as a person, as a student, as a football player – every category."
In the early 2000s, Pruitt was an assistant coach on Propst's staff at Hoover (Ala.) High. Propst said that Peterson's relationship with Pruitt and new Vols defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer, who was linebackers coach at Georgia, also was instrumental in Peterson signing with UT.
"If Jeremy was still at Alabama, I think he'd be going there," Propst said.
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Propst thought Alabama still was a consideration for Peterson as late as last weekend. The coach said Florida State made a late push for his signature as well.
"I have never seen it like it's been in the last couple of days," Propst said. "I think it puts more pressure on the kids who don't sign in the early period."
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Propst described Peterson as an athletic player with considerable upside.
"He's an every-down linebacker," Propst said. "You don't have to sub him out. He can just flat run."
The 247Sports composite ranking notwithstanding, Propst thinks Peterson projects more favorably as an inside linebacker.
Peterson's signing marks the third consecutive year that a player from Propst's program has signed with Tennessee. Defensive back Shawn Shamburger will be a sophomore next season, and linebacker Ja'Quain Blakely will be a sophomore, too.