Tennessee Official Visitor Capsule: Sammy Brown
The Tennessee Volunteers get their first official visit of the 2024 recruiting cycle on Friday, five-star linebacker Sammy Brown. The Vols have been high on Brown for years, with linebackers coach Brian Jene-Mary being an integral force in his recruitment. Brown will make five official visits before he makes his college decision in the first week of July, and this will be Tennessee's last time to impress him in a big manner.
The All-American, mullet-rocking athlete sports a sub 10-60 second 100-meter dash... in the pouring rain. He's interested in football and football only, developing his body and skillset over his high school career. Brown played with five-star safety Malaki Starks during the first two seasons of high school; Starks eventually signed with the Georgia Bulldogs and became a Freshman All-American in 2022. Brown carries himself in a similar manner to Starks - he carries a lot of weight on his shoulders, being one of the top recruits since his freshman year.
He's averse to attention; Brown canceled an unofficial visit with Georgia this past weekend to help his dad cut down and move a tree. He's looking for a family environment that encompasses those ordeals - hard work and discipline. Brown repeatedly states that he's impressed with how Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has turned around the program quickly. Now, with enough background out of the way, let's evaluate the football player.
Prospect: Sammy Brown
Projected Position: ILB
Vitals: 6-2 and 230 pounds
School: Jefferson High School (Jefferson, Georgia)
Frame: The biggest and baddest person on the field at all times. Brown carries a noticeable muscle advantage against his peers. When he comes downhill, he resembles a wrecking ball plunging toward a wall, picking up steam, and bouncing off tacklers. His size translates to inside linebacker at the next level, as he should be able to fill run gaps from day one physically.
Athleticism: Elite straight-line mover. Again, he's a state-champion track athlete and is explosive downhill. The lateral agility is still questionable at this stage and maybe the biggest point of focus entering his college career. Inside linebackers must be able to read keys and hop between holes down the line of scrimmage before they attack. Right now, he's got one direction, but it's a powerful and effective one.
Instincts: Good spatial awareness. Understands how to attack angles and fight through traffic. Really shows when he's on offense and weaving through defenders en route to the open field. Defensively, he's patient and reads the play - he still be a step slow, as you can still see him processing everything, but he generally keys in correctly and gets in pursuit.
Polish: A day-one SEC athlete that may have passing down limitations early. He played in space a good deal at Jefferson, but the competition level didn't resemble that of the Metro-Atlanta circuit. He must figure out how to react quickly, but his body and natural football tendencies can help him become an impact player and leave an early impression on an inside linebacker room.
Bottom Line: He's the unanimous No. 1 linebacker in America for a reason. There aren't many Sammy Browns walking this Earth. He's an A+ character evaluation on top of his ridiculous high school production and mind-shattering athleticism. He's got room to grow, as many young inside linebackers do, but with the proper coaching, this could be a multi-year SEC starter with an all-conference upside.
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