Offers start for Tennessee DE/TE
Junior to Watch: Kevin Mainard
School: Coalmont (Tenn.) Grundy Co. HS
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Position: Defensive End/Tight End
Size and speed: Mainard is 6-foot-4, weighs 265 pounds, and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. He bench-presses 315 pounds and squats 460.
Statistics: As a junior, he recorded 111 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and four forced fumbles.
Honors: Was named all-region as a junior.
Favorite Schools: Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida.
Skinny: One of Tennessee’s top prospects has received his first scholarship offer and appears on the verge of many more.
Grundy County end Kevin Mainard said South Carolina made an offer on Tuesday and he has received indications from Tennessee's staff that the Vols plan to offer as well.
“Those are my top two right now,” Mainard said. “I like Georgia and Florida, too. But if Tennessee offered, that would probably be the place I would go. I grew up a fan and my dad was a huge fan of the Vols. Before he died, he said he dreamed that one day I would play for Tennessee.”
Mainard recently attended Tennessee’s Orange-White Game. Grundy County coach Ken Colquette said Vols coach Phil Fulmer followed that up with a 30-minute phone conversation recently and has indicated members of the staff will visit Coalmont “in the next day or two.” South Carolina will visit the school within the next two weeks.
He’s also receiving interest from Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, Colorado and Wake Forest. Most are recruiting him both as a defensive end and tight end.
“They like my size and speed for both spots,” Mainard said. “My personal preference is defensive end, though.”
As a junior, he dominated opposing offenses by recording 111 tackles and 12 sacks.
“People tried to run away from him, but didn’t have a lot of success,” Colquette said. “He’s got great closing speed. And, of course, his forte is getting to the quarterback. He’s a big-time hitter. He had some last year that just left you saying ‘Oh my gosh.’
“I’ve had several good ones in my 30 years, and he’s up there with the very best. He’s got all the tools – the size, the strength, the feet. He’s a kid who’s skilled enough to play multiple positions, too. He loves to rush the quarterback off the corner, but I’ve tried to tell him to keep his mind open to tight end or H-back, too. Those spots are kind of coming back into fashion, and he could be a very good one.”
Mainard, who maintains a 3.0 GPA and is expected to be a full-qualifier, plans to camp at Tennessee this summer. He said he may also try to attend the Nike combine at Auburn in May and the Alabama summer camp.