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Vols battling for local talent

Typically, most of the talent in Tennessee resides in Memphis. This year is a bit different. The mid-state area around Nashville now rivals Memphis when it comes to top prospects, as three of the top prospects are from the mid-state area. Two are from West Tennessee. One is from East Tennessee. The top talent seems as spread out as it has ever been.

The state is far from being the most talented in the Southeast but there seems to be more elite athletes in Tennessee than there were a few years ago. For proof, just look at the state's top prospect: cornerback Jalen Ramsey from Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy. Ramsey committed to Southern California in July and that coaching staff wouldn't have come across the country if Ramsey wasn't worth it.

However, the state offers various positions for recruiters. Among the top 10 prospects, there is a quarterback, cornerback, receiver, linebacker, defensive lineman, offensive lineman and tight end. Also, with Tennessee's struggles it's easier to poach prospects in the Volunteer State than ever before and the Trojans aren't the only ones doing so. Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, UCLA, Wake Forest and Arkansas have all come from out of state to nab a top 20 prospect from the state of Tennessee.