Fast-Rising Florida Defensive End Venson Sneed Talks Relationship with Tennessee, Recruitment and More

Josh Heupel's staff extended an offer to 2022 Winter Park (Fla.) on January 11th while still at Central Florida. Sixteen days later, Heupel was announced as the 27th Head Coach at Tennessee, but the staff's priority level did not change with Sneed.

Tennessee's staff maintained contact with Sneed while working towards a defensive coordinator hire, and three days after Tim Banks joined the Volunteers staff, Sneed had an offer from one of his "dream schools." He discusses that and more here with VR2 on SI.

"Recruiting, in general, has been going pretty good," Sneed said. It has been picking up pretty fast. It has been a great experience for my family and me. I have been enjoying it a lot. I am excited to see where it started and how far it has gone."

"I talk to Tennessee a lot, South Florida, and Iowa State, West Virginia, Pitt, pretty much all of the schools I have offers from are good with communication and hitting me up a lot," Sneed said on his recruitment.

Out of those schools mentioned, the 6-5, 260 pounds defensive end has added recent offers from Florida Atlantic and Coastal Carolina, but he says Tennessee and Iowa State are his top two at this point.

Iowa State has prioritized Sneed early on. "I like them a lot. I like the way the coaches talk to me. Coach Hoodjer just hit me up about 20-30 minutes ago," Sneed said. "They have been in the top two since this thing started, really. They are high on my list, and I am excited to see where it goes from here with our communication and relationship; we have built a great one, and I am ready to see where we can go with it."

Tennessee has been at the top with Iowa State since extending an offer last month, while Sneed continues to weigh out all of his options.

"Coach Golesh and Coach Heupel were pretty good to me when they were at UCF, and now they are at Tennessee trying to build a new culture up there. I am looking deeply into that. I enjoy both of them, to be honest," Sneed said.

The new defensive staff at Tennessee has picked up in Sneed's recruitment as well. "I hear from pretty much all of the defensive staff every day. Coach Heupel called me earlier, Coach Garner called me earlier, and Coach Banks. They are pretty good with communication which I love."

"All of them have a successful background with who they've put in the NFL, how long they stay at a school, and I think that is a pretty good consideration as well," Sneed added.

Tennessee is recruiting Sneed to play as a five-technique on the defensive front. He notes "every other school" is recruiting him at the same position.

While Sneed is from Florida, he has learned plenty about Tennessee through a virtual visit, making trips to the state in the past, and having family in Memphis.

"Angelia Brummett gave a wonderful presentation of the football building," Sneed said of his virtual visit. "She broke it down piece by piece, and it felt like home through a computer."

"I have been to the state quite a few times.  I have family up there. I know the University is right on the river, they are close to the mountains and the stadium holds about 103,000 people," Sneed said about what he knows about Tennessee. "Peyton Manning went there. They have a Peyton Manning room. They have a lot of great coaches. They have a member on the SEC leadership council, Alontae Taylor, he follows me on Twitter, and I have talked to him a lot."

Sneed certainly feels like a priority for Tennessee. Something that stands out to him in his recruitment. "It means a lot, considering Tennessee is one of my dream schools."

I am looking for a great culture," Sneed said on his desire for his future school. "I am looking for somewhere they will not only better me at football but better me as a man and to be a wonderful father one day and be able to know that whether football workouts or not, just know that not every day is promised."

Sneed's current timeline for a commitment is "towards the end of May."

I would say I am an aggressive, versatile football player. I can play on both sides of the football and recognize blocks, recognize stunts and offenses, and defenses. I am pretty smart when It comes to football," Sneed said on what kind of player one of the schools recruiting him will get when the time comes.

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