Tennessee finally got Memphis Central defensive lineman Joshua Lane on campus, and the first game-day stop clearly landed.
Lane, a 2027 in-state target, made the trip east for his first experience inside Neyland Stadium, and he said the visit matched the reputation.
"It's my first time here," Lane told reporters."I heard the atmosphere was pretty great, so I had to come check it out, and I loved it."
A few details stood out to him right away, and one of them was as personal as it gets.
"Really, my name. My last name (Lane) was on a player's jersey (Dejuan Lane).
It felt right seeing my name like yeah, okay. The crowd was hype."
Lane said.
The other big takeaway was Tennessee’s flexibility up front. That fit jumped off the page for Lane, who sees a natural role in what the Vols are doing along the defensive line.
"They are very versatile. You have some players playing inside and outside, and I feel like I could be a good fit for that," Lane explained.
That versatility has been part of the appeal for Tennessee, which has been productive with its front and ranks among the nation’s top teams in several defensive front categories, including sacks.
Clarence Kendrick, a Defensive Scouting Analyst, has been the main point of contact since Tennessee offered Lane back in September. Lane’s recruitment has moved quickly since then, and he’s already lined up more major visits.
He is scheduled to return to Rocky Top for an official visit on November 7th for Kentucky week, a trip that could potentially fall on the "Dark Mode" game. He also has an official visit set for Alabama in November, and Oklahoma State and Oregon were mentioned as other schools expected to host him for an OV.
For Lane, the attention has come fast, but it hasn’t caught him off guard.
"It's about time," Lane said with a smile as he broke every reporter into laughter."I love it (the current state of his recruitment). It's a dream for real, so I can't complain.
Lane is hopeful he’ll be ready to make a decision in December. After the visits are done, there will still be a camp discussion, and he’ll have a strong support system helping guide the process.
Tennessee made a strong first impression, but the Vols are part of a crowded race for one of the newer names drawing plenty of attention.
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