Vols, Rebels eye 2016 big-body OT
Class of 2016 Sweetwater (Tenn.) offensive tackle Bailey Byrum has been a regular visitor at Tennessee in 2014 and it's not hard to see what the Volunteers are interested in the 6-foot-6, 300-pounder.
"I went to their junior day back in the spring, then I camped there over the summer and I went back for a game on Saturday," Byrum said.
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It was the first game day experience in Knoxville for Byrum and he said he came away impressed.
"It was a good game visit," he said. "I had an opportunity to spend some time and talk with [offensive line] Coach Mahoney and I really got to see what the atmosphere was like.
Mahoney is Byrum's lead recruiter and would also be his position coach at the next level. Byrum said Mahoney let him know the Vols have legitimate interest.
"He was telling me he was glad I made the trip," Byrum said. "He told me they're interested. We talk abut once a week on the phone so it was good to get some time face-to-face, too."
Another school hot on the trail of the super-sized Byrum is [/tm]Ole Miss[/tm]. Byrum said he regularly speaks with assistant coach Maurice Harris.
"He came to my school last year and talked to my coaches and said they really like me," he said. "I camped there over the summer and I'm trying to attend a game this year, probably the Missouri game."
He added that he and Harris also talk on a regular basis.
"I really like him, he's a super nice guy," Byrum said of Harris. "I try to call him once a week, too, and just let him know what's going on."
Byrum, who has yet to receive his first scholarship offer, said he will be busy on the camp circuit this offseason, with plans to camp at Tennessee, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and a few other schools.