Commitment Breakdown: Rivals250 DT Omari Thomas to Tennessee
THE SITUATION
Tennessee added another huge piece to its 2020 recruiting class on Monday morning when Rivals250 defensive tackle Omari Thomas committed to the Vols over Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and several others. Thomas has long been a high-priority target for the Vols and the relationship between the two sides really heated up as the fall moved along, leading to Thomas' commitment on Monday. So what does it mean to the Vols and why does it hurt the programs that missed? We examine below.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR TENNESSEE
Tennessee continues to add bodies at a position of need along the defensive line and adding an athlete like Thomas to the list can't be understated. From an off-field perspective, Thomas is another great pull by the Vols staff out of the Memphis area. When Jeremy Pruitt took over the program he and his staff prioritized the city and it continues to pay dividends as he's the fourth four-star from the area to commit this fall.
Beating out a host of SEC rivals to land him is also huge, especially Auburn, after the Tigers stole Jay Hardy late last month.
As far as what to expect from Thomas on the field, he has great size and has played both offensive and defensive line in his career and brings the type of versatility and athleticism that his hard to find for a player his size. The Vols have shown an ability to develop defensive linemen and the coaches will be eager to get their hands on a prospect like Thomas.
WHY IT HURTS OLE MISS, TEXAS A&M, AUBURN AND OTHERS
Thomas saw a lot of twists and turns in his recruitment and while Tennessee was always.a constant force, several different programs thought they had the edge at times, so missing out late hurts.
Thomas looked bound for Ole Miss for quite sometime, with the Rebels being close to home and appealing to his family. But the coaching change and instability there cost the school a shot, so losing him after such a long courtship probably stings the most, especially since he's likely taking his friend and former Ole Miss commit Jabari Small with him to Tennessee.
Texas A&M was also a long-standing fixture in Thomas' recruitment and felt confident earlier in the fall, but couldn't keep that momentum up. Auburn made a strong late push, but the Vols bested them in what has become a heated recruiting rivalry this cycle.