Vandy, Tennessee battling to keep 2018 Rivals250 WR Justin Oden in state

The Latest: After a season that saw him put up huge numbers and take a big step forward in his development, Class of 2018 Rivals250 wide receiver has also seen a big step forward in his recruitment. Several schools are keeping in contact, but none more than in-state programs Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Rivals.com caught up with Oden to talk about his options as well as plans for the offseason.

In His Words: “Right now I’m getting a lot of attention from Tennessee and Vanderbilt. They are both telling me they want me to stay in state and represent the state.”

On Tennessee: “They need wide receivers, especially with guys like Josh Malone leaving. I think they’re going to try to throw the ball more next year so I’ll be watching to see if they do that. I had a chance to visit for the Missouri game and that was a fun trip. It’s always exciting to get up there for a game. They want me to come back soon so I might do that.”

On Vanderbilt: “I went there for the games against Tennessee and Tennessee State. It was a good time. The game against Tennessee everyone was really fired up after they won, especially they coaches. They think it’s just the beginning of their building process so we’ll see how they do in the future. They also want me to visit again so we’ll see if I can make it there this spring.”

Rivals Reaction: Oden’s profile is on the rise, with programs like LSU, Louisville, Ole Miss and others also working to get him on campus in the coming months. Both in-state programs are smart to make him a priority, especially with more than a year until Signing Day 2018.