KNOXVILLE— Four-star defensive end DaVonte Lambert announced his intentions to sign with Tennessee this morning and the 2014 class now stands at 24 commitments. The Vols will lose six defensive linemen after the season due to graduation, and adding immediate help to the defensive front is certainly a priority in the 2014 class. In Lambert, the Vols are getting 6 foot 3 inches and 275 pounds of such help. He has the size to play defensive end or tackle and should challenge for a starting job at either position.

Rated as the No. 4 JUCO player in the nation by 247Sports, Lambert chose the Vols over Georgia, Florida, and Auburn. Lambert last visited Tennessee on “Foundation Day” (July 21st) and left with the Vols in his top 2. Our friend Patrick Schmidt at RantSports had this to say about Lambert,

“The opportunity for immediate playing time was an important factor in Lambert’s decision, and he could earn a starting spot at end and could potentially be kicked inside as a nickel rusher from the defensive tackle spot. At 6-foot-3, 275-pounds, he is stout at the point of attack and uses his hands well to beat offensive tackles. Once he beats the lineman, he has a good burst to close on the quarterback or running back.”

He attends Georgia Military College (where current Vol defensive tackle Dan McCullers played) and plans to enroll early. The talented lineman will have three years to play two seasons.

Lambert joins 4-star defensive end Joe Henderson along the defensive front in the 2014 class and the Vols should add more help upfront soon. Tennessee is the presumed leader for 4-star end Derek Barnett and 4-star tackle Charles Mosley. Another prospect to keep any eye on is 4-star end Dewayne Hendrix who is strongly considering the Vols and Gators. Tennessee should pickup commitments from at least two of the aforementioned three linemen and adding all three wouldn’t be a surprise.

Remember when Butch Jones said, “If you can recruit at Cincinnati, you can recruit in the SEC”? I laughed. Obviously, I shouldn’t have. Tennessee’s 2014 class ranks 1st nationally according to Scout and Rivals, 2nd per 247Sports and 3rd according to ESPN.