KONGBO!!@King_Kongbo is officially a Volunteer! #TSD16 pic.twitter.com/41uJmSHo02
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) February 3, 2016
What you need to know
Name | Hometown | Position | Height | Weight | 247 Composite | 247 Position Rank | Stars |
Jonathan Kongbo | America's Hat, Canada |
DE |
6'5.5 |
264 |
0.9583 | 1 |
4 |
Butch Jones yet again proved his chops as a recruiter who knows how to close, snatching top ranked JUCO prospect Jonathan Kongbo away from both Ole Miss and Alabama. The son of Nigerian immigrants to Canada (a cultural connection that Tennessee coaches emphasized when they introduced Kongbo's and Daniel Bituli's parents), Kongbo is still learning how to play American football. After a redshirt season at Wyoming, Kongbo tore up his junior college league playing for Arizona Western College. A four- or five-star rated prospect by every recruiting service, Kongbo held offers from 24 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oregon, Southern California, and Tennessee.
On film, Kongbo is an incredibly impressive physical prospect. He combines ideal size and strength with a quick first step and relentless attitude. It's impossible to miss him on film-- he's the one dragging down the ball carrier while being held by two or sometimes three players. While he lacks the polish and sophistication of a pass-rusher with a full arsenal of moves, Kongbo's athleticism is breathtaking. New Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has promised to deliver a relentless pass rush, and Kongbo is the ideal strongside end to pair with a lighter pass rusher like Darrell Taylor. As the Vols move from a 4-3 under to a more traditional 4-3, Kongbo should see the field as Derek Barnett's primary backup, if he doesn't replace LaTroy Lewis or Corey Vereen on the other side.