In short window, Vols land signature from Las Vegas' Cedric Tillman
In a day and age where the recruiting process continues to happen earlier and earlier, Las Vegas, Nevada receiver Cedric Tillman is a poster child for the old school recruiting ways.
But even Tillman's story is unusual to the old recruiting calendar.
On Sunday afternoon after the dead period had started, Tillman had his second-ever conversation with the Vols where Tennessee offered him a scholarship.
Today, Tillman turned that offer into his college home by signing with the Vols sight unseen.
“I choose Tennessee because of the coaches that took a chance on me and make me feel at home,” the 6-2, 205 pound receiver told Volquest.com. “I feel like I can go in there and compete. That's all I can ask for.”
Tillman picked Tennessee over Hawaii and UNLV and admits the last couple of days have been crazy.
“The last 2-3 days have been wild with everything including all the fan support,” Tillman said “It's been unbelievable how much they have supported me in such a short period of time.”
Tennessee's offensive coordinator Tyson Helton was tipped off about Tillman by his brother, USC head coach Clay Helton.
“Coach Clay Helton was at the school seeing one of their commitments, Palaie Gaoteote, and he told me that he really liked my film and my size,” Tillman recalled.
“He said if he couldn't make a place for me that he would do anything he could to help me, and that's basically how I got introduced to Tennessee.”
Tennessee has never visited Tillman in person and Tillman has never seen the Tennessee campus. Tillman has family in Mississippi and said he has been doing tons of research about the Vols and having plenty of conversations.
“I have talked to Tennessee a lot,” Tillman said. “I have talked to coach (Tyson) Helton and coach Pruitt many times a day since they offered on Sunday.”
Tillman missed his sophomore season with a broken forearm and emerged as a playmaker his senior year after growing nearly four inches and putting on 25 pounds following his junior year. He finished his senior season with 37 catches for 774 yards and seven touchdowns.