Roanoke, Va., lineman Hall commits to Tennessee Vols

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KNOXVILLE - Most of Tennessee's football coaching staff is enjoying some vacation time with an NCAA-mandated dead period causing recruiting to slow down just a little bit.

The Volunteers still got more good news Thursday with another commitment.

Chance Hall, a three-star offensive lineman out of Virginia, publicly pledged to the Vols during a ceremony Thursday evening at Roanoke's Northside High School.

Only Tuesday, the 6-foot-4, 288-pound Hall narrowed his list to five programs -- Virginia Tech, Virginia, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Tennessee -- but two days later he became Tennessee's 19th commitment for the 2015 class.

"I went to Knoxville three or four times, and after each time I felt more comfortable," he told The Roanoke Times. "I love the fan support and the atmosphere. That was a big factor. It's big-time football in a big-time conference."

Duke, Maryland and North Carolina were other programs to offer scholarships to Hall. The Vols dipped into Virginia to bolster their offensive line in the last class by signing Coleman Thomas. The Fort Chiswell resident worked with Tennessee's first-team line as an early enrollee in spring practice and figures to start from day one as a true freshman.

Hall was in Knoxville for "Orange Carpet Day" a couple of weekends ago, when Tennessee landed commitments from current Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and former Alabama tailback Alvin Kamara and defensive tackle Quay Picou and linebacker Austin Smith, teammates at Buford High School outside of Atlanta.

Tight end Kyle Oliver from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro and kicker Tommy Townsend from Orlando, Fla., committed within the next three days as the Vols started on a recruiting run.

Hall is the third offensive lineman to commit to Tennessee's 2015 class, joining Zach Stewart and Jack Jones, a pair of in-state players. Coalfield's Stewart was the first commitment of the class back in April 2013, and Jones, Oliver's teammate at Oakland, pledged last May. Both players are rated as four-star prospects by Rivals.com.

Tennessee lost its entire starting offensive line from last year's team but signed three linemen in both the 2013 and 2014 classes after signing none in 2012.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.

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