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What UT Vols football coach Jeremy Pruitt thinks of Tennessee's 2019 signing class

First, Tennessee landed the athletic linebacker. Then the Vols got the big man.

Combined, the additions of Henry To’oto’o and Darnell Wright marked a banner national signing day for Tennessee on Wednesday.

Tennessee waited several hours for its first addition. When the Vols finally got on the board, they did so in a big way.

To’oto’o, the four-star linebacker from De La Salle in California, pulled a signing day surprise by declaring for the Vols over Alabama and Washington.

Wright, a five-star offensive tackle, was an expected addition but no less important. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder played at Huntington High School in West Virginia, earning Under Armour All-American honors as a senior. He’s ranked as the No. 2 offensive tackle prospect in the 247Sports composite. Wright’s size is that of an SEC-ready lineman, but he also moves well.

“Darnell is a guy that’s a big, powerful man that can play any of the five spots on the offensive line,” Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt said.

Wright, No. 10 nationally, is the highest-ranked recruit to sign with Tennessee, according to his 247Sports composite ranking, since defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie joined the Vols in 2015. Wright chose UT over West Virginia.

Huntington High School offensive tackle Darnell Wright is a key Tennessee target.

“I just felt as though it was a good fit for me — not just for football but for everything academically," Wright told ESPN during his signing ceremony. "I had a good relationship with all the coaches. All the people, they treated me well, and they treated me as a real person.”

Tennessee’s class ranked 12th nationally and seventh in the SEC in the 247Sports composite, as of Wednesday evening. Pruitt’s 2018 class ranked 21st. Tennessee hasn’t had a top-10 class since 2015.

“I think it’s a great class to kind of lay the foundation for what we want to achieve here,” Pruitt said.

“I think it’s important how you finish a class. You’ve got to get your number. I think we were able to do that.”

Rankings aside, the Vols addressed their biggest need by adding five offensive linemen, four of whom signed in December. Wright highlights a group that also includes five-star offensive tackle Wanya Morris.

“I think we’ve got depth now, and our numbers are getting closer to what they should be at that position,” Pruitt said.

De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) running back/linebacker Henry To'oto'o (Photo: Sandi Allan Photography)

To'oto'o also is a key pickup not just because of his talent, but because of his position. The Vols needed another linebacker to round out the class. To’oto’o joins outside linebacker Roman Harrison and two-way standout Quavaris Crouch, who projects as a linebacker for UT.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound To'oto'o is rated as the nation's third-best outside linebacker prospect in the 247Sports composite. He played in the All-American Bowl last month.

“I chose Tennessee because it felt like home, even though it’s all the way out there in the South,” To’oto’o told ESPN during his signing ceremony. “I felt comfortable down there, especially with (Tennessee player development staff member) Kevin Simon being a (De La Salle) alumni. And I just love what Coach Pruitt is doing down there.”

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt addresses the media during a signing day press conference at the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

The new additions will join 19 December signees. The Vols also added a pair of transfers during the offseason.

Alabama topped the national rankings, followed by Georgia. The Bulldogs snagged five-star wide receiver George Pickens, a Tennessee target who had been committed to Auburn.

The Vols also lost three-star defensive tackle LeDarrius Cox, who had been committed to UT since April. He signed with Mississippi.

Three-star cornerback Kenney Solomon committed to Tennessee on Wednesday, but the Vols have not announced his signing. He's a possible blueshirt candidate.

2019 UT Vols signing class

Name    Pos.    Ht.    Wt.    Hometown/Previous school

Chris Akporoghene    OL    6-5    294    Seymour/IMG Academy

Aaron Beasley    ATH    6-1    220    Franklin, Ga./Heard County

Sean Brown    TE    6-5    250    Rome, Ga./Coosa

Warren Burrell    DB    6-0    170    Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett

Quavaris Crouch    ATH    6-2    230    Charlotte, N.C./Harding University High    

Tyus Fields    DB    5-10    190    Cornelius, N.C./Hough

Eric Gray    RB    5-10    195    Memphis/Lausanne Collegiate School

Roman Harrison    LB    6-2    241    Bainbridge, Ga./Bainbridge

Ramel Keyton    WR    6-3    185    Marietta, Ga./Marietta

Jackson Lampley    OL    6-4    300    Nashville/Montgomery Bell Academy

Jackson Lowe    TE    6-5    242    Cartersville, Ga./Cartersville

Brian Maurer    QB    6-3    184    Ocala, Fla./West Port

Melvin McBride    OL    6-2    300    Memphis/Whitehaven

Jaylen McCollough    DB    6-0    194    Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove

Jerrod Means    WR    6-2    212    Hampton, Ga./Lovejoy

Darel Middleton    DL    6-7    290    Oak Ridge/East Mississippi Community College

Wanya Morris    OL    6-6    311    Loganville, Ga./Grayson

Elijah Simmons    DL    6-2    344    Nashville/Pearl-Cohn

Henry To'oto'o    LB    6-2    230    Concord, Calif./De La Salle

Savion Williams    DL    6-4    315    Upper Marlboro, Md./Lackawanna College

Darnell Wright    OL    6-6    320    Huntington, W.Va./Huntington

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