McCollough plans to see Vols again

Power Springs, Ga. defensive back Jaylen McCollough is finding a lot of familiarity with Tennessee these days. The 6-1, 190-pound 4-star has known head coach Jeremy Pruitt since he was a high school freshman and he has already seen Tennessee on a couple of occasions.

“Coach Pruitt was the first ever coach to recruit me,” McCollough said. “He was the first coach to talk to me when he was at UGA and I was a freshman. We talk a lot. He's obviously a very good coach and knows defense.”

McCollough was in Knoxville back in January for his second time and continues to like what he sees on Rocky Top.

“It's beautiful,” McCollough said of the campus. “There's a good vibe to it. With the new staff being there, it helps things more. They bring a different vibe there. They are heading in the right direction.”

McCollough will be a mid-term enrollee and hopes to make a decision in the fall. Before that, there are more visits to make. Trips to Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and a couple of return trips to Tennessee.

“I will be up there for spring practice and then back in the summer for camp to work without with coach Pruitt and coach Kelly so he can see where all he would use me in the secondary,” McCollough said.

The 4-star product is no stranger to Charles Kelly as Kelly was recruiting him to Florida State.

“That's another thing that's appealing to Tennessee,” McCollough said. “Coach Kelly and Coach Pruitt worked together at Florida State. Other coaches have worked with coach Pruitt at other places and they have all reunited at Tennessee.”

McCullough will also take some official visits and he said as of now three of his five will be to Ohio State, Alabama and Tennessee, but the options continue to come in with offers from coast to coast.

“It's a blessing. It's really humbling. It's a dream come true,” McCollough offered.

“I just pray about it it. Talk to my parents and my coaches. I try not to focus on it too much. I'm not really in a hurry. But I'm not coasting. I have to make a decision before December.”

Rivals.com ranks McCollough the 91st ranked player in the country.