4-star LB Chris Cole Still High on Tennessee Ahead of a Decision

Top-65 linebacker Chris Cole (Salem, Va.) trimmed his list from eight schools to six on Monday, with the Tennessee Volunteers making the cut.

Chris Cole is one of the top linebackers in the class of 2024. The four-star out of Salem High School in Salem, Virginia, released his top eight in early July, just before he visited Knoxville. Then, almost a month later, he cut two schools off the list: Alabama and Notre Dame. The remaining schools are Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Miami (FL), Penn State, and USC (California). 247Sports’ Crystal Ball Predictions like Georgia, but there is still some time to go. Tennessee will have to fight hard against Georgia and Virginia Tech, who is an in-state threat to land the top player out of Virginia in the class. Cole stands 6-3 and weighs 210 pounds.

Although Salem High School did not post individual player stats, according to Andrew Ivins, Cole made 76 tackles, including 11 for a loss in a season in which Salem fell one win short of a state championship. Cole has experience at defensive back but transitioned to linebacker last season. As he grows more comfortable in the position, this experience should help him in the passing game and make him a more versatile linebacker than he would have been without that experience. 

Cole is not only versatile on the field but also versatile as an athlete in general, running track. From the tape, it is clear that Cole has great natural instincts and speed - two things you can’t teach. He reads the game well and reacts accordingly. I am sure most college coaches would like to see him up his weight a bit, but as a rising senior in a new position, he has a strong foundation to be a great player. The Vols have a legit shot in this one, especially considering Cole is teammates with Tennessee four-star running back commit Peyton Lewis.

4-star LB Chris Cole (Salem, Va.) during his unofficial visit to Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, on March 25, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Chris Cole)

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