Venson Sneed breaks down virtual Junior Day experience at Tennessee
Tennessee held a virtual Junior Day over the weekend that welcomed prospects to a behind-the-scenes Volunteers experience.
One of those recruits on the zoom was defensive end Venson Sneed of Winter Park, Fla. who the staff offered earlier this year.
“It went well and was a lot of fun,” the 2022 prospect told Volquest. “It was interesting watching from home. We got to watch practice, 1-on-1’s with o-line and d-line and got to see team-tempo with best-on-best at the end.
“The recruiting assistants would have selfie sticks that showed us practice. With those, you could see the field from different angles. They would be talking to us, too.”
The virtual experience also included a Josh Heupel conversation while walking from Peyton Manning way to the locker room and then to Neyland Stadium. Academic counsellors then had an opportunity to speak with recruits along with a Q&A session with current players.
“One other thing that we did which was pretty cool was play against each other in a game of charades – offense vs. defensive prospects,” Sneed said. “They would give us one and then we had to type the answer in a text box. The prospect who got it right first would get a point for either the offense or defense.”
The recruiting experience has certainly evolved over the past calendar year and Tennessee’s staff has done a nice job adapting to the times. The prospect appears to have an official visit date locked in for Knoxville – given the dead period is lifted by the time.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner gave Sneed a call following the event.
“Coach Garner is more personal and checks up on me often,” Sneed said. “He asked me how I was doing. Coach Heupel also shot me a text and told me he was happy I was able to participate in it.”
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive lineman speaks with Garner just about every day via some type of communication. The prospect has also heard from some Tennessee players a few times and is able to get a feeling on the program from that vantage point.
“I’ve talked with Alontae Taylor a few times,” Sneed said. “A coach can only tell you so much, but a player can get right down to it and tell you the things you need to know.
“Everything I’ve heard on Tennessee checks out.”
The three-star owns a 5.7 Rivals Rating, is the 65th-rated player out of Florida and is the No. 43 player at his position in the 2022 class. Sneed has 13 offers to date and is still planning on a late spring commitment.
In a prior conversation with Volquest, the Sunshine State native said Tennessee and Auburn were his two ‘dream schools.’ The Tigers, however, have not offered – though are in contact with prospect.
The Vols like the athleticism put on tape by Sneed in 2020 and see potential across the entire defensive line for the versatile play-maker.
“I can play all over and I’m willing to play wherever they need me,” Sneed said in the prior article. “The more you know the better it is and the more opportunities you’ll have. I’m really just an athlete. I even play left tackle on offense for my high school.”
The Tennessee target has been invited to the Rivals Camp Series in Miami on April 17.
