Butch Jones has landed arguably the top junior college pass-rusher in the nation: Davonte Lambert, a 6'3, 275-pound defensive end from Georgia Military College, has picked Tennessee over Auburn, Florida, and other SEC squads.
Lambert is a four-star player, generally considered one of the top 10 junior college players in the top of 2014. 247's composite has him ranked as the No. 8 juco player and the top defensive end. As a stouter, more powerful defensive end, he projects as a strongside player, or perhaps even a defensive tackle. The Waynesboro (Ga.) Wayne County High School product also had offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, as well as other national schools such as Miami (FL), Kansas State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
Before Lambert's committal, the Vols were ranked as the No. 4 team in 247's composite ranking, thanks to a whopping 23 commits. Now, that number rises to 24, with Jones doing some strong work at recruiting juco players. 4-star wide receivers Kameel Jackson and Eric Lauderdale were junior college players, as is four-star linebacker Chris Weatherd. That gives a Tennessee squad looking to rebound some ready-to-play talent for next season. Lambert is the second defensive lineman in Jones' class.
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