Four-Star OT Gage Ginther Is The Litmus Test For Tennessee's Recruiting Class

According to various recruiting websites, Tennessee has recruited at a fringe top-ten level in the 2024 cycle. They hold 14 commits in the class, one of the highest marks in the SEC. Most national outlets aren't discussing Tennessee's class in as much depth as they do other programs. Part of that reason is that the Vols have landed some under-the-radar prospects, but that doesn't mean they aren't SEC football players with high upside.

2024 four-star offensive tackle commit Gage Ginther (Fort Collins, Colo.) is the litmus test for Tennessee's recruiting class, in my opinion. What does that mean? Well, not many are talking about the fact that the Vols landed a 6-6, 270-pound tackle with elite hip flexion and a body of work in pass protection. Most high school offensive linemen's tape is littered with them overpowering defenders in the run game. That's great, but when they get to college, their biggest issue is holding up in pass protection against pass rushers who know how to pressure the quarterback. Ginther will come in from day one and feel comfortable with the technique and timing of Tennessee's offense, a major advantage over other commits.

After his commitment to Tennessee, Ginther has seen his rating on these recruiting sites increase. He's now a four-star on two different sites without any new high school tape. The industry is catching on that they may need to adjust things if he's good enough for Tennessee's coaching staff. The Vols feel they landed an eventual contributor that can play tackle in a system that asks a lot of their tackles. He's not a depth commitment - there's a version of events where Ginther puts on weight and college and sees early snaps at a major SEC program.

Tennessee has several different commits that are like this. Inside linebacker commit Jordan Burns (Atlanta, Ga.) has ridiculous tape and the frame to play meaningful snaps for the Vols. Defensive line commit Jeremias Heard (Rome, Ga.) is ranked outside the top 1000, but he began playing football less than a calendar year ago. Heard is 6-9 and may eventually become an offensive tackle for Tennessee. There are a few more examples, but the point is clear - Tennessee does its homework and does so years in advance.

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