4-star Shamari Earls all smiles after Tennessee trip
Shamari Earls walked off the elevator inside the Anderson Training Center on Monday and had a big smile on his face. It was clear his visit to Tennessee was a hit.
“They are the truth,” Earls said. “Tennessee is the real deal. They keep rising more and more on my board. I’m just excited to take it all in.
“Coach (Lavorn) Chop just mentioned the little things like the scrimmages. Everyone is getting reps and mixing in from hitting to tackling to thudding. Getting work on everything and not slowing down. The DBs, they only gave up one or two balls but the coaches held them accountable and they had to do up downs. Just the little things separate them from other schools.”
He visited a few months back, and that trip made this trip one he was eager to take again.
“That first visit really did impress me,” Earls said. “I saw all I needed to see. It checked all the boxes. I was just eager to come back.”
He was able to watch Tennessee practice on Monday and said that the defensive intensity was very impressive.
“The defense came out aggressive,” Earls said. “Everything was just the best thing I saw on my visit thus far, the scrimmages, they were getting after it, just the physicality. It changed the caliber of team and I can see it right here and then.”
Earls is a long defender who can play multiple spots in the secondary.
“My main thing is it come in at corner but my versatility and length I can play anything,” Earls said. “Wherever I can come in and play and feel comfortable.”
He also got to hang out with Willie Martinez and Tim Banks. Being able to watch them coach was a good thing for Earls.
“I really like coach Martinez,” Earls said. “Watching him, he is definitely a teacher and the guys have trust in him. The corners only give up a ball or two and the tackling was phenomenal.”
Earls plans to visit again this summer.
