Touted defensive tackle Shy Tuttle commits to Tennessee

TAYLOR GIVES VOLS SECOND COMMITMENT OF THE DAYTennessee wasn't done after landing Shy Tuttle on Friday afternoon.At halftime of his game on Friday night, Hopewell (Va.) defensive end Darrell Taylor, a consensus four-star prospect, announced him commitment to Tennessee. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pass-rushing end picked the Vols over finalists Virginia Tech, Florida, Ohio State, South Carolina and others.Taylor's scholarship offer list included Michigan State, Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska, Missouri, Penn State and others.The addition of Tuttle and Taylor moved Tennessee up to third in the national class rankings according to 247sports, while Rivals ranks the Vols' class fifth.

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee picked up a second big-time defensive tackle prospect for its 2015 football recruiting class Friday.

Shy Tuttle, a highly rated tackle at North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C., followed California five-star tackle Kahlil McKenzie when he committed to the Volunteers during a ceremony at his school Friday afternoon.

According to 247Sports.com, the 6-foot-2, 315-pound Tuttle is rated a five-star prospect and ranked 26th overall, fourth among defensive tackles and the top player in North Carolina. The other recruiting services -- Rivals.com, ESPN and Scout.com -- all rate Tuttle with four stars.

The 6-4, 319-pound McKenzie, the son and nephew of two former Vols, pledged to Tennessee in July. He was ruled ineligible to play his senior season, though, after transferring from De La Salle High School to Clayton Valley Charter High. His dad is Reggie McKenzie, the general manager of the Oakland Raiders.

Tuttle chose the Vols over finalists North Carolina and N.C. State, and his scholarship offer list included Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and South Carolina, among others.

Last month on his Twitter account, Tuttle posted a picture of a photoshopped cover of Rolling Stone magazine, sent to him by the Vols, of him wearing a Tennessee shirt and walking with Beyonce.

Defensive line coach Steve Stripling spearheaded Tennessee's pursuit of Tuttle, and head coach Butch Jones and Mark Elder, the Vols' tight ends coach, special teams coordinator and lead recruiter in North Carolina, attended Tuttle's game last Friday during Tennessee's open weekend.

The Vols have increased their focus on North Carolina in recent classes. They landed four-star receiver Marquez North in 2013 and signed four-star tailback Derrell Scott in February. Tuttle is the third North Carolina commitment for 2015.

In addition to McKenzie and Tuttle, Tennessee holds defensive line commitments from tackle Quay Picou (Buford, Ga.) and ends Andrew Butcher (Alpharetta, Ga.), Dylan Jackson (Maryville, Tenn.) and Marques Ford (Gibsonton, Fla.).

After parting ways with Knoxville-area athlete Jaylond Woods, the Vols are back to 23 commitments for 2015.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com

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