Tennessee football won a big-time recruiting battle, landing four-star offensive lineman Bennett Warren.
The 6-foot-7.5 and 330-pound offensive lineman is out of Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas. He chose the Vols over Michigan, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Michigan was seen as the favorite to land Warren heading into his announcement, but the Vols stole some of that momentum. Texas A&M was also involved in his recruitment heavily, but tapered off down the stretch.
“I’m looking for a place where I feel most at home, where I can be myself but also get good work in and get to pursue my goals,” Warren told Off The Hook in the spring.
Warren ranks as the No. 143 prospect nationally by 247Sports Composite. He also ranks as the No. 8 offensive tackle in his class. Out of Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugarland, Texas, he is the No. 23 prospect out of the Lonestar state.
The offensive lineman took an official visit to Tennessee on June 23. He also took officials to Oklahoma, Michigan and Texas A&M. During his junior season, Warren mainly played right tackle on the way to a state championship.
The need for offensive linemen, especially in the 2024 class, has led Josh Heupel and his staff to prioritize Warren throughout his recruitment. The Vols extended Warren a scholarship offer in January. While it seems like a late offer, only Texas A&M and Oklahoma, of his top schools, extended Warren a scholarship offer before the Vols.
Warren join a top 10 recruiting class for the Vols, and feels a major void in the trenches for the 2024 class
Gabe Brooks of 247Sports scouted Warren, saying he has a very high ceiling and verified size.
“Enormous offensive tackle prospect with elite height and length. Legitimately 6-foot-7+ with a wingspan beyond 7 feet. Ready-to-play mass but wears the bulk fairly well,” Brooks said.
“Plays with encouraging movement ability relative to immense size. Shows lateral range and more light-footed locomotion than you’d expect for a tackle of his dimensions. Displays effective kick slide in pass protection. Swallows up smaller, overmatched rushers. Forceful once engaged.
“Gets off the line well in the running game. Capable of climbing to the second level on schedule and has flashed some power in his hands in that capacity. Possesses the desired three-sport athletic profile with basketball and limited throws context under his belt.
“Likely faces a learning curve considering significant jump in competition level from small private ball to P5 college opponents. Can improve hand placement. Sometimes gets catchy and grabby and can more consistently win with punch power.
“Gifted tackle prospect with uncommon physical tools. Possesses the frame and functional athleticism to become a high-level protector who can man the left side or dominate on the right. Projects to the high-major level with positive markers in size, on-field context, and multi-sport evidence that suggest a very high ceiling that could lead to serious NFL Draft candidacy.”
