Hokies Recruiting: Ricky DeBerry Decision Preview and Prediction
By Tim Thomas
Sleepers: Ohio State and Tennessee
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers both had very different seasons, but both teams are definitely in the hunt for Ricky DeBerry. Urban Meyer and Butch Jones have had plenty of success on the recruiting trail and both of these coaches are right in the hunt for this four-star outside linebacker and defensive end.
The Volunteers had a very young team this past season and seem ready to make a breakthrough in the SEC East next season. Butch Jones has done a great job of recruiting players in the Mid-Atlantic region and the chance to play on a rising SEC team also has to be exciting.
The lack of success in the last few seasons can’t help but the tradition surrounding the Tenneesee football program helps along with the proximity to home not being too big of a deal. However, Tennessee still has not established themselves completely again but DeBerry could be a part of that.
Ohio State has been very dominant in the Big 10 during the first three seasons under Urban Meyer with the Buckeyes having only three losses in Meyer’s three seasons. Meyer is definitely one of the best head coaches in college football and his type of record definitely gets just about every recruit to listen up.
The Buckeyes have also done a great job producing plenty of NFL players and the potential to get some early playing time is decent but not great with the Buckeyes. Ohio State is also building a very strong defensive line led by Joey Bosa and Michael Bennett this season with Bosa returning and Bennett headed for the NFL.
Tennessee and Ohio State both have a decent chance to end up with Ricky DeBerry but neither of them are the favorite.