Butch Jones is poised to sign a top 20 class. Photo by Reed Carringer

KNOXVILLE—It’s National Signing Day! Here we offer our predictions of where Tennessee’s top targets will sign. Of course, we’ll continue to update our Vol targets and Vol commitments pages as Signing Day progresses.

Malique Belfort: A 6-3, 175 pound receiver from New York, Belfort is given a 3-star rating by 247 Sports. He is a good possession receiver who has soft hands, good height, is a solid route runner, and isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field. Belfort wasn’t thought to be considering the Vols until a Tuesday report from Chris Anderson, a beat writer for West Virginia’s 247 Sports site, stated that Belfort’s recruitment was down to West Virginia and Tennessee. He was recruited by Butch Jones at Cincinnati. With Belfort publicly emerging as a Vol target just hours ago, it’s tough to get information on where he stands in his recruitment. It’s likely he won’t end up at the same school as Boyd, and if the Vols sign Boyd, look for Belfort to sign with the Mountaineers. Conversely, if Boyd signs with the Mountaineers or even Pittsburgh, look for Belfort to end up at UT. Prediction: Tennessee.

Vonn Bell: The 6-0, 190 pound safety is a resident of Ooltewah, Tennessee, and grew up a Vol fan. Given a 5-star rating by most recruiting services, he is one of the most prized recruits in the nation and is ranked as the No. 2 safety in the country by 247 Sports. Bell will be a difference maker the moment he steps on a college campus. He’ll choose between Alabama, Ohio State, and Tennessee. Based on information from people close to Bell, Tennessee, and a few rival schools, it looks like UT is the team to beat for one of the nation’s premiere players. If Bell signs with the Vols, he’ll be Tennessee’s highest rated defensive signee since Eric Berry.  Prediction: Tennessee. Update: Bell shocked many when he signed with the Buckeyes Wednesday morning.

Jaylen Miller: The 6-3, 260 pound defensive lineman from South Carolina is rated as a 4-star recruit by ESPN. A versatile athlete, Miller has the tools, strength, and build to play either defensive end or tackle in college. He remains uncommitted, but visited Tennessee twice over the last month. He is considering Wake Forest, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Tennessee. Miller won’t announce his college plans until signing day, but most expect him to pick the Vols. Prediction: Tennessee. Update: Signed with the Vols. View more info and highlights on our commits page.

Johnathan Ford: The 5-11, 190 pound running back from New Hope, Alabama, is rated as a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports and Rivals. Ford rushed for 2,989 yards and 47 touchdowns over the last two years. He was previously committed to Vanderbilt, but decommitted a week ago after a visit to Auburn. People close to Ford are pushing him toward Auburn, while it appears he prefers Tennessee. Unfortunately for the Vols, the influence of those around him might be too much for Tennessee to overcome. Prediction: Auburn. Update: Signed with Auburn.

Tyler Boyd: Rated as a 4-star receiver, the 6-2, 180 pound prospect from Pennsylvania is a tremendous talent. Boyd is committed to Pittsburgh yet also considering West Virginia and Tennessee. His mother wants him to play close to home, while it appears Boyd may favor playing for Tennessee. It will likely come down to Pittsburgh and UT in what is an extremely close race. Prediction: Pittsburgh. Update: Boyd signed with Pittsburgh as planned.

E.J. Levenberry: A 6-3, 230 pound linebacker from Virginia, Levenberry is rated as a 4-star prospect. He is an excellent run stopper, sure tackler, and has the size and skills to play as a true freshman. Though Levenberry is committed to Florida State, he isn’t thrilled with the idea of playing for Sal Sunseri, who was hired as Florida State’s linebackers coach after his exit from Tennessee. Levenberry has a long history of interest in Tennessee, and the Vol staff is confident they have a shot at flipping him from FSU. Not many are picking Levenberry to abandon Florida State, and though his recruitment is a coin flip at this point, I think he stays with the Seminoles due to the relationships he has with several other prospects headed to Tallahassee. Prediction: Florida State. Update: Levenberry announced Tuesday night he plans to sign with the Seminoles. 

Malik Brown: The 6-3, 250 pound defensive end from Florida is considered a 3-star prospect. He is quick for his size, and excels at rushing the quarterback off the edge. He is committed to Syracuse, but Butch Jones convinced Brown to take an official visit to UT this weekend. Tennessee is recruiting him to play a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position, something Brown said suits his skill set perfectly. Though he’s struggling with his decision, the Vols have momentum with Brown and look to be in position to flip him. Prediction: Tennessee. Update: Signed with the Vols.

Joshua Dobbs:  A 6-3, 190 pound quarterback from Georgia, Dobbs is rated as a 4-star prospect. While he’s considered to be a pro-style quarterback, he can make things happen with his legs and would be a good fit in Butch Jones’ uptempo spread attack. He has been committed to Arizona State since June, but took an official visit to Tennessee the weekend of January 25th. Clemson made a late push at Dobbs, but never got him on campus. Dobbs and the people close to him really like Tennessee, but they are struggling with the idea of decommitting from Arizona State. That said, the Vols seem like a better fit, and I believe Tennessee is the leader for Dobbs. Prediction: Tennessee. Update: Dobbs signed with the Vols. Full story here. 

Davin Bellamy: A 6-5, 240 pound defensive end from Georgia, Bellamy is rated as a 4-star prospect by ESPN. Bellamy is a remarkable athlete who placed his primary focus on basketball until his junior year, and has the potential to play defensive end or linebacker. Bellamy had been committed to Florida State since August, but decommitted January 29th. He visited Georgia the weekend of the 25th and left his trip to Athens proclaiming the Bulldogs as the slight leaders to sign him. Oregon recently offered him, and he traveled to Eugene over the weekend. Though the Ducks are making a late charge, he is expected to sign with either Georgia or Tennessee. The Vol staff took their final in-home visit with Bellamy last Tuesday, and Tennessee is thought to be right behind the Bulldogs in his recruitment. Bellamy enjoyed the recruitment process and is perhaps the most difficult recruit to read on this list. Prediction: Georgia. Update: Bellamy signed with the Bulldogs.

Trey Johnson: The 6-2, 220 pound linebacker from Georgia is considered a 4-star recruit and rated as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the 2013 class by ESPN. He has the potential to see playing time as a true freshman. Johnson is an Ohio State commitment, but made a surprise trip to Knoxville the weekend of January 25th. While his visit to Tennessee went well, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes after his January 29th visit to OSU. Prediction: Ohio State. Update: Johnson signed with Ohio State.

The current class rankings are as follows: Rivals-24th, ESPN-29th, 247 Sports 28th. Tennessee has 19 commitments in this class, and if they pick up the four I predict, that leaves them with 23 signees. The Vols can sign as many as 27, but it doesn’t look like they’ll sign a full class.

Where do you think this class ranks when Signing Day ends?