Tennessee target Desmond Tisdol sets decision date

Tennessee had to go into full attack mode at the linebacker position during the 2020 recruiting cycle, and they’ve done that. Now they’re in the final three for another top prospect.

Desmond Tisdol announced today that he will make his college decision on December 18th, which is the first day of the early signing period. Tisdol will pick between Tennessee, Auburn and South Carolina.

The four-star linebacker stands in at 6-0, 215 pounds. He’s the 134th ranked player in the 2020 class, according to 247 Sports. The Rochelle, Georgia native is the 14th ranked player in the Peach State — a place Tennessee has consistently gone to under Jeremy Pruitt.

Tisdol currently has one vote for South Carolina and one for Auburn, but most analysts remain undecided, according to 247 Sports crystal ball projections.

Tennessee will get the last crack to impress him on his official visit date of December 13th. He will get his official look at Auburn this weekend. The Volunteers got in late with Tisdol, offering him in late October. He visited Knoxville for the first time during the UAB game.

Tisdol was visited on Tuesday by Tennessee inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer.

Jeremy Pruitt had a lot of work to do at the inside linebacker spot following the departure of Jeremy Banks, Will Ignont and Shanon Reid. Making things tougher, Daniel Bituli will exit the program after the bowl, leaving a lot of responsibility on Henry To’o To’o’s plate. Tennessee’s depth behind To’o To’o is a real issue.

But Pruitt has landed a trio of linebackers out of Memphis so far in this cycle. Tamarion McDonald, Martavius French and Bryson Eason each committed together and should all figure in to the linebacker equation next season.

Desmond Tisdol would solidify that depth, giving Tennessee a speedy linebacker that can make some plays in space. As the early signing period approaches, this is a name to keep an eye on.