Tennessee lands four-star DB Doneiko Slaughter
Doneiko Slaughter committed to Arizona State in June and looked to be strong to the Sun Devils until about a month or so ago.
The 6-foot, 185 pound safety took and official visit to Miami last weekend and is at Tennessee this weekend. It is his third trip to Knoxville in the last two months.
Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols made the four-star at Roswell (Ga.) a priority and it paid off.
"I really started thinking I could play at Tennessee when I was there for the Georgia game," said Slaughter. "I liked what I saw, I started talking to the Tennessee coaches a lot more and Tennessee is the school I will sign with Wednesday.
Telling Herman Edwards about his decommitment Friday was not easy, but Slaughter knew where his heart was.
Derrick Ansley played a big role in the love for the Vols.
"Coach Ansley and I have been talking almost every day for a while. I love him as a coach and I know he knows how to develop players. He has recruited a lot of top players, he has developed a lot of guys and he has coached big-time players in college and the NFL.
"We have a great connection and I really trust he can make me a lot better. His background really was big in my commitment."
The direction Tennessee is going didn't hurt either. After a rough start in Knoxville Pruitt led the Vols to a 7-5 record this season and Slaughter likes the direction this program is going in.
"Tennessee is really getting better," said Slaughter. "Nobody expected the loss to Georgia State, but they stayed together and got better all season.
"Coach Pruitt has things going there now. The last few games the team really played well and they showed a lot of improvement. He is getting good players in there too and things are really picking back up.
"Tennessee is only going to be better in the next few years."
Slaughter made the decision Tuesday, told Pruitt and Ansley of it during the in-home visit Wednesday and has now let the public know.