Shanon Reid LB Fort Myers, FL 6’1″ 200 (3-star) Committed 12/6/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Reid, who enrolled at Tennessee in January, might be the most confident player in the class. He has made it clear he expects to play early and challenge for a starting position as a freshman. Reid is a good athlete who has All-SEC potential.
Josh Palmer WR Fort Lauderdale, FL 6’2″ 190 (3-star) Committed 1/23/17
Josh Ward’s Take:
Tennessee beat out UCLA for Palmer, who spent his senior year committed to Syracuse. Palmer has good speed and should be a deep-threat option in Tennessee’s offense.
Solon Page III LB Marietta, GA 6’2″ 200 (3-star) Committed 4/16/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Page might be the most underrated player in Tennessee’s signing class. Others at his position have received more attention, but Page earned Parade All-America honorable mention honors. How much weight Page adds will determine his best position in college.
Kivon Bennett DT Fort Lauderdale, FL 6’3″ 255 (4-star) Committed 6/19/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Bennett was a standout at St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the nation’s premiere high school football programs. He was named the team’s MVP in its matchup in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in December. Bennett is a key member for the Vols’ signing class.
Deandre Johnson DE Miami, FL 6’3″ 234 (3-star) Committed 12/11/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Johnson is already on campus and could help Tennessee as a rotation player on Tennessee’s defensive line in 2017. Rivals.com National Scouting Director Mike Farrell named Johnson a “sleeper” in the class during a recent interview on WNML.
Today (Feb. 1), Sam Hunt released his new single, “Body Like a Back Road,” a tune he co-wrote with Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. The single is part of Sam’s plan to release new music as he finishes it, instead of delaying the release to make it part of a larger project.
“As I write these songs, I don’t want to sit on them for as long as it takes me to finish a record before I put them out, so I’m just going to try to put them out as I write them and finish them,” says Sam to NCD. “As quick as I can get them done, I’ll be shooting them out.
“[“Body Like a Back Road”] is a lighthearted song that was a lot of fun to write. I’ve been writing songs over the past, I guess, year and a half, trying to conceptualize a new record and it kinda started taking a heavy direction, and I sat down at one point and was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna lighten this up a little bit, it needs a lighter flair.’ [“Body Like a Back Road”] sort of swings, and hopefully it’s easy to listen to and will put a smile on some folks’ faces.
“I wrote it with my producer Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally. [I wrote] it after I got engaged. I connect music to the emotions that come from relationships, so most of the songs that I write are inspired by those circumstances, emotions, feelings, all that kind of stuff.”
Check out the new song below.
Sam Hunt “Body Like A Back Road”
Written by Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Josh Osborne & Shane McAnally
Produced by Zach Crowell
Got a girl from the Southside
Got braids in her hair
First time I seen her walk by
’Bout fell up out my chair
Had to get her number
Took me like 6 weeks
Now me and her go way back
Like Cadillac seats
Chorus:
Body like a back road
Could drive it with my eyes closed
I know every curve like the back of my hand
Doin’ 15 in a 30
I ain’t in no hurry
I’ma take it slow just as fast as I can
The way she fit in them blue jeans
She don’t need no belt
But I can turn ’em inside out
I don’t need no help
Got hips like honey
So thick and so sweet
Ain’t no curves like hers
On them downtown streets
(Repeat Chorus)
We’re out here in the boondocks
With the breeze and the birds
Tangled up in the tall grass
With my lips on hers
On a highway to Heaven
Headed south of her smile
Get there when we get there
Every inch is a mile
(Repeat Chorus)
I’m take it slow just as fast I can
Shawn ShamburgerDB Moultrie, GA 5’11” 185 (3-star) Committed 11/4/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Shamburger transferred high schools before his senior season and greatly improved his status as a prospect when he was able to face stronger competition. Shamburger could prove to be a “sleeper” in the class who will have an opportunity to make an impact at cornerback.
Will McBride QB League City, TX 6’2″ 200 (3-star) Committed 12/12/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Tennessee needed to land someone like McBride, who was able to enroll in school in January. The depth chart for Tennessee could be up in the air in 2017, which made McBride’s ability to go through spring practice vital. Height is the biggest question mark for McBride, but he’s a good athlete with a solid arm.
Matthew Butler DE Garner, NC 6’4″ 265 (3-star) Committed 12/20/16
Josh Ward’s Take:
Tennessee spent a lot of time during the recruiting process pursuing Butler, who could develop into a defensive tackle at the college level. He’s a physical lineman who performed well at the Shrine Bowl following his senior season.
Riley Locklear OL Huntington, WV 6’5″ 285 (4-star) Committed 7/8/16 (Early E)
Josh Ward’s Take:
Locklear enrolled at Tennessee in January and arrives as one of the top players from West Virginia. Locklear, who had a strong senior season, will likely be a redshirt candidate in 2017 with the opportunity to play a big role in 2018.
