Another of the Tennessee signatories appears to be seeking a release of their National Letter of Intent following the recent change of coaches for the Volts. Four-star class of 2021 running back Cody Brown from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, suggested in a post on Friday on his Twitter account that he wants to be back on the market after signing with Tennessee last month during the initial subscription period.
The 1.8m and 80kg Brown simply tweeted “#freeme” on Friday afternoon, using the same hashtag that was used this week in a tweet now deleted by four defensive Tennessee stars / final linebacker player Dylan Brooks from Handley High School in Roanoke, Alabama. Brooks expects to be released from his National Letter of Intent with the Vols after the former coach Jeremy Pruittis shooting on January 18, according to a 247Sports’ Keith Niebuhr report last week.
Although Brown has yet to confirm that he requested Tennessee’s release, sources close to his recruitment said he is evaluating his options after Pruitt’s resignation and has expressed interest in being released from his National Letter of Intent.
Brown’s tweet came just two days after Tennessee announced the hiring of a new coach Josh Heupel on Wednesday. Heupel joined Tennessee’s new athletic director Danny White on leaving UCF to go to Knoxville. Former Volleyball running back trainer Jay Graham, who was one of Brown’s top recruiters for Tennessee, is also expected to join the Alabama team.
One of three running backs in Vols’ 2021 recruiting class, Brown was ranked potential number 231 and tenth running back in 2021 class and the 21st senior from the state of Georgia, according to Industry 247 Sports Compound . He was also rated as a potential four star by 247Sports.
Tennessee’s other two running-back hires, four stars Tiyon Evans from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and three stars Jaylen Wright from Southern High School in Durham, NC, arrived on campus almost two weeks ago and has already joined the Vols as first enrollees. Brown has been planning to enroll in Tennessee for months after graduating from Parkview in May.
Earlier this month, Brown was appointed a first team selection in every state by MaxPreps after again getting big numbers during his senior season. According to the MaxPreps story listing teams from all states in Georgia, Brown “bsuffered injuries during his last year and still ran for more than 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. “
He ended the season with 1,527 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per load, and ended his high school career with 5,227 running yards and 65 touchdowns. His senior season was his third consecutive year with more than 1,500 running yards.
Brown originally chose the Vols over Auburn on May 3, and the Tigers remained the main competition for him in Tennessee during the final months of his recruitment. He told GoVols247 in October that the former Vols team convinced him to have the opportunity to compete for an immediate playing time in his backfield. But Tennessee’s ongoing transition to an accelerated and widespread attack under Heupel may not be an ideal fit for Brown, who “andxcels as a downhill runner “and has an” fsold out “, according to the official assessment of 247Sports on it.
“They’re saying, like, I’m going to be in rotation as soon as I get there,” said Brown in October. “And I know that they’re not just saying that, either. I know they are not. And the offense they carry out is very beneficial to me. They use their backs a lot, so that was too big for me.
“What is missing is, like, a red zone back-zone that can go north and south, because many of its coasts are small and fast. And I just feel like I can get in there and help the attack move the chains and get at least 5 meters per pop after contact. “