A former teammate of Vol defensive end Kendal Vickers, highly-touted running back Derrell Scott committed to Tennessee January 27th. South Carolina was once the favorite for Scott, but the Vols emerged as a serious contender after he took an official visit to Rocky Top on October 5th.

Credit has to go to Vol running backs coach Robert Gillespie who relentlessly recruited Scott and pulled him away from South Carolina.

As we’ve seen repeatedly this year, Butch Jones is no stranger to selling early playing time to recruits—that’s a big reason the Vols have the No. 5 class in the nation (per ESPN)—and a strategy that paid off with Scott.

Tennessee has to replace Rajion Neal who quietly amassed over 1,200 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season. Marlin Lane returns next season but the remainder of UT’s depth at running back is unproven at the college level. Scott adds a different dimension than fellow running back commits Jalen Hurd and Treyvon Paulk and should complement Tennessee’s stable of backs nicely.

As we saw last year, the Vols desperately need playmakers. Scott certainly helps from that standpoint and will have a chance to earn early playing time once he sets foot on campus.

The Basics: Rated as a 4-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports, Scout, and ESPN, Scott is a 5-11, 185-pound running back from Havelock, NC. He is rated as the No. 109 player in the nation by ESPN. The last two seasons he amassed nearly 3,900 yards and 59 touchdowns on the ground. He has offers from South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Ohio State, Florida State, Notre Dame, Clemson, and a host of other programs.

Scouting Reports: Scott is the type of player Butch Jones loves to utilize. He’s quick, has faster “football speed” than his 4.55 40-time suggests, is an adept pass-catcher, has great vision, and is elusive in traffic. Here’s what scouts are saying about Scott.

“Scott is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. His quick feet and great vision make him a nightmare for defenders in the open field. Scott runs well inside the tackles and on the perimeter. He shows great balance and is an instinctive runner. Scott also catches the ball well out of the backfield. Overall, he is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country.” – Michael Clark, Scout.com

“Quick-twitched athlete who plays faster than his testing times would indicate and has very good play speed and foot quickness. Possesses just average size but is muscular with room to add bulk and strength. Has good speed, not elite, and it’s what separates him from being a top-tier back in this class. Shows strength when needed but is not a power guy….Scott has the potential to develop into an every-down college back. However, we see him developing more into a dynamic weapon with hybrid-type potential working in and out of the slot and running back position in a multi-purpose type role. Has soft hands and polished receiving skills. A skill player you want to get creative with in a spread offense and create opportunities for in space. Also has the potential to get recruited at corner and should be an asset on special teams as a cover guy and returner.”- ESPN.com

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