Dear Jeremy Pruitt,
Me again.
Sorry to keep bothering you. But last year, I wrote a similar column/letter, thinking that you and your staff might heed the advice and offer local star Thomas Harper a scholarship.
He was dominating the area ranks while at Karns as a receiver and defensive back, and his skillset and athleticism simply screamed SEC-caliber.
But you didn’t.
Now, he’s already played in four games at Oklahoma State as a freshman.
I figured I might try to help out again. Seems the boat has sailed for Tennessee on getting South-Doyle running back Elijah Young, who has 23 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards already this season.
There’s still time to save face, though.
There’s this kid at Greenback you should probably be a bit more fervent about in recruiting.
I know, I know. He’s not the alluring 4- or 5-star prototype from Atlanta or California who would improve your recruiting rankings and appease the fan base.
But Holden Willis is special. He’s uncommitted. And physically, he passes the eye test.
He’s 6-foot-4. He’s 200 pounds.
He’s a freak athlete on the field, too.
Not to mention that, in just six games this fall, he has 862 yards receiving and 15 TDs on just 33 receptions.
He’s having a Mr. Football type of season for Greenback.
Where’s Greenback, you ask? Well, it’s not too far from you. Close to Maryville, actually.
It’s this amazing community where, on gamedays, fans back up trucks around the game-field fencing in order to watch the action from the beds of their pickups.
You’d fit right in, Coach. You’d love it.
And before you start hemming and hawing about how 1A football is different than the SEC, consider what Willis did in the spring against some of the Southeast’s top talent.
He didn’t get an invite in May to The Opening Regional in Murfreesboro. So, on a whim, he went to the combine the day before and earned an invite to the Opening Regional.
Once in, he ran a 4.6. He vertical-jumped 34 inches. And this all without really even training for it.
He wound up as the eighth-rated receiver at the event. He beat Izayah Cummings, who has offers from Kentucky, Duke and Louisville. He was just one point behind 4-star Xzavier Henderson (Miami, Fla.), who has offers from Alabama and Clemson.
Greenback’s Holden Willis (23) during the Blount County Jamboree in Alcoa on Friday, August 16, 2019.
So, what do you have to lose? I just checked your 2020 commitments. You have the room, and you’re going to be losing some pass catchers after this season.
He can be a receiver, a tight end or H-back, maybe even a safety. His frame and athleticism are just begging to be molded.
All you have to do is put the offer in front of him. I know your staff has talked to him. You had him in camp over the summer.
Pull the trigger.
Otherwise, the Power 5 programs that have contacted him this week might just steal another local talent right out of Knoxville’s backyard.
Talk to you next fall,
Jesse.