Tennessee coming hard after 2020 in-state DB Keshawn Lawrence

The new Tennessee coaching staff is working hard as it starts to build the 2019 recruiting class, but that doesn’t mean Jeremy Pruitt and company don’t already have an eye toward the future. Class of 2020 Keshawn Lawrence is poised to be one of the Volunteer State’s top prospects and he said Pruitt has already led him know he will be a priority.

“Right after he got to Knoxville after the national championship we spoke on the phone,” Lawrence said. “He was just telling me about how I can be such a good player at Tennessee, and some things I need to work on to keep getting better.”

Lawrence is currently playing basketball and it has limited his opportunities to take visits, but he’s hoping to be in Knoxville again soon. But even without a trip to campus since Pruitt has been hired, it’s clear what the new head coach thinks about Lawrence’s importance to the the school.

“He told me he can build 2020 around me,” Lawrence said. “He said UT could be a good fit for me and they want me to stay home.”

The fact that Pruitt has a history of coaching quality defenses and specifically defensive backs is a major plus for Lawrence, who said he liked the school’s decision to hire him.

“When they hired him I thought, it’s going to be fun because I play defensive back and he works with defensive backs,” Lawrence said. “So I thought it would be a chance for me to thrive and knowing that he knows my position makes me more comfortable.”

Lawrence said that he expects the Vols to bounce back quickly on the field in 2018.

“I feel thier defense will be a lot better than last year’s just because he has a lot of experience being at Alabama and having such a great defense.” Lawrence said. “So I think they will be better and win more games.”

As far as other schools and his next potential major offer, Lawrence said one program has been keeping in regular contact.

“Clemson has been talking to me a lot,” he said. “They haven’t really offered me but they talk to me a lot and tell me they’re interested so I just have to keep working so I can get that offer.”