2020 RB Miles Friday commits to Vols, explains why time was right

For the second time in less than a week, Tennessee landed a blue-chip 2020 prospect from a rival state.

Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) tailback Miles Friday committed to the Vols on Thursday, saying, "Why wait?"

"My hardwork has paid off. I love all the schools that have offered me, but none of those offers didn't excite me like the Tennessee offer did.”

The 5-foot-11, 172-pound tailback picked Tennessee over offers from Alabama, Oregon, Georgia and Ohio State, among others.

While Friday was ready to pull the trigger Thursday, he caught position coach Robert Gillespie off guard with a phone call and a decision this afternoon.

"Coach Gillespie was really surprised," Friday said. "He knew that I liked Tennessee a lot but he was really happy, as was coach (Butch) Jones. They couldn't believe that I was doing it this early."

Friday is now Tennessee's second commit in the 2020 class, joining Florida receiver Leonard Manuel, who is projected as one of the top freshman in the Sunshine State.

Friday, who compares his running style and slippery moves to former Vols tailback Alvin Kamara, camped at Tennessee as an eighth grader where he had the opportunity to meet Butch Jones.

He earned a UT offer this spring after Gillespie watched him practice. The freshman running back hasn't actually met Gillespie yet though, but Friday said he talks with Tennessee's tailbacks coach multiple times a week and is looking forward to their first face-to-face interaction when he visits in a few weeks.

“Coach G and I talk a couple of times a week. He's the coach that I'm closest with," Friday said. "I haven't met him face to face but will in the next week or two when I come up there for another visit. When I came up the first time coach G wasn't in the office, so I spent time with coach Jones and coach (Tommy) Thigpen. I have talked some with coach (Charlton) Warren as well.”

Friday said Tennessee likes "his elusiveness" and "start and stop ability."