Published Apr 18, 2019
Take Two: Is five-star Justin Rogers a Tennessee lean?
Mike Farrell, Adam Gorney
Rivals.com

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites or a regional analyst.

MORE: Tennessee has had some key April visits

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THE STORYLINE

Justin Rogers is a five-star phenom because the Oak Park, Mich., standout could play on the offensive or defensive line in college and he has the chance to make a major impact. At 6-foot-4 and 314 pounds, Rogers played inside linebacker last season.

This past weekend, the five-star took his first official visit to Tennessee and it’s a big statement because the Volunteers have been recruiting him to play on the defensive side of the ball and he has some connections to the state that are important. Included in that, Rogers spent a good deal of time in Nashville last summer because it’s where his trainer resides.

Tennessee definitely left an impression on Rogers and there’s no question coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols coaching staff have made him a top priority for the 2020 class. It would be a huge recruiting coup if Rogers ends up in Knoxville since Tennessee has never signed a five-star out of Michigan in the Rivals era.

But many others are definitely involved as well. Georgia has been a long-time player. Ohio State is going hard after Rogers. Kentucky is expected to receive a visit. Those are just three other schools in the Rogers sweepstakes - and Michigan can never be counted out, either - and many other trips could happen before the five-star makes a decision.

Tennessee made a big move this past weekend getting Rogers’ first visit. Can the Vols land the five-star who could help any program on either side of the ball?

FIRST TAKE - Josh Helmholdt, Midwest analyst

“Tennessee got the first official visit from Rogers, but another has been set for Kentucky the weekend of April 26, one to Georgia is expected to be finalized soon, and Alabama is another school that is likely to be an official visit destination before the summer. Add in Michigan and Ohio State, two Midwest schools that have hung around, and there is a lot of competition for Rogers still.

"Tennessee is the team with the most buzz for Rogers right now, but a year ago at this time Ohio State had that same kind of momentum in this recruitment, and at the start of last season it seemed Georgia had even more. I’ve known Rogers since he was in middle school and I have watched his recruitment develop over the last few years. There’s still a lot of recruiting to be done, and I’d say it’s too early to make a strong prediction on where this one is headed.”

SECOND TAKE: Mike Farrell, National recruiting director

“I think Tennessee leads for him. It’s very telling that he decided to go down there for this visit. He’s shown a lot of interest in the coaching staff and they’re recruiting the heck out of him. At first, I thought he was just going to be a Michigan guy and stay home. The more he’s looked around, the more it looks like he’s going to leave the conference.

"Now, whether he commits and then takes visits and then de-commits or makes it dramatic in the end, I’m not sure. I just know this kid is a heck of a player. He could play offensive line or defensive line at a high level in any conference. If Tennessee was to get him, it would be one of the biggest gets in the 2020 class and they’re in good shape.

“A lot depends on whether he wants to do a Darnell Wright, who knew he wanted to go to Tennessee for a long time and waited, waited, waited. We’ll see if Rogers wants to pull the trigger.”