Brooks breaks down Vols commitment

There is always plenty of excitement in college football recruiting once the dead period ends in January and Tennessee fans are very excited about the commitment from 2016 Rivals100 tight end Devante Brooks. Out of Washington (D.C.) St. John's College High, Brooks is already the seventh player in the junior class to commit to the Volunteers.

"Coach Jones and coach Elder met with my coach today," said the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Brooks. "I called them after that when I got to school this morning and talked to them about where the program is going. I asked them one last question about why they want me to come to Tennessee so bad and what they value in me so much. They talked for a couple minutes about that and then I told them that I love Tennessee and that I see the program moving forward in the know want to be part of it. I'm committing to Tennessee and I'm proud to be a Vol."

Brooks' relationship with coach Elder and coach Jones seems to be the biggest reason why he decided to commit.

"I have the most contact with coach Elder," he said. "Him and I talk every few days. We've developed a very good relationship and I'm excited that he's going to be my tight ends coach for the next three to four years. I'm pretty excited.

"Coach Jones and I don't talk as often," Brooks said. "He's very busy guy. When we get the chance will ask each other how it's going and everything."

During a camp last offseason Brooks tore his ACL but that hasn't taken away from what he thinks he can do in Knoxville.

"I'm almost clear to do just about everything," he said. "In another two or three months I will be 100-percent.

"I'm expecting to bring a relentless effort and I want to be that security blanket for the quarterback," said Brooks. "Just like Jason Witten is Tony Romo's security blanket right now for the Cowboys. I bring a lot of versatility because I can block and I can also catch and they can put me out wide. I'm hoping to bring that to Tennessee and I know that they'll use me to the best of our abilities to win championships."

Brooks is a highly sought after prospect and had many suitors. He is currently 100-percent committed to the Volunteers but didn't totally rule out taking some other visits down the road.

"I'm still going to talk to my parents about that," he said. "I might not take any more big visits. I like go to a school that's close by but the only official visit I'm going to take is to Tennessee."

Virginia Tech, Maryland and a couple other schools were high on Brooks' list.