Gage Ginther Signs With Tennessee

2024 three-star offensive tackle Gage Ginther (Fort Collins, Colo.) has signed his national letter of intent with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Early national signing day is upon us, and the Tennessee Volunteers are hoping to finish strong. They've recruited at a high rate under head coach Josh Heupel and brought in some major difference-makers in their 2023 signing class. Volunteer Country will provide readers with an in-depth breakdown of each signee.

Offensive tackle Gage Ginther is the nineteenth commit to turn in their national letter of intent. He is the No. 542 player in the cycle, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. Take a look at what the Vols are getting.

Prospect: Gage Ginther

Projected Position: Offensive Tackle

Vitals: 6-5.5 and 287 pounds

School: Fossil Ridge High School (Fort Collins, Colorado)

Frame: Not many are talking about the fact that the Vols landed a 6-5.5, 287-pound tackle with elite hip flexion and a body of work in pass protection. Most high school offensive linemen's tape is littered with them overpowering defenders in the run game. That's great, but when they get to college, their biggest issue is holding up in pass protection against pass rushers who know how to pressure the quarterback. Ginther will come in from day one and feel comfortable with the technique and timing of Tennessee's offense, a major advantage over other commits.

Athleticism: A fluid, capable mover that eats up ground quickly. Ginther's strides are concentrated but long, allowing him to consistently reach the second level in the run game. Doesn't have the elite athleticism to guard the A+ pass rushers, but is more than capable of playing SEC offensive tackle as an athlete.

Instincts: Ginther is also someone who clearly studies and understands the game at a high level. He made several impressive pickups throughout his junior and senior seasons, including one where the protection scheme didn't match the box, and he managed to come off his man to block a free rusher and keep the quarterback clean. He repeatedly makes these subtle, game-changing plays that save series.

Polish: He can play high at times, but what saves him is his natural framing. Many offensive linemen struggle to place their hands in the right spot, and getting their bodies in sync is even more challenging. Ginther marries the two extremely well and always gets the correct framing on his assignment. Once he latches on, he drives through his legs and finishes the block with his hands.

Bottom Line: There are going to be some growing pains when he arrives in Knoxville. Ginter is accustomed to a different level of competition than what the SEC entails; the first few spring practices may come as a shock. Furthermore, he's got a lot more weight to put on before he can kick inside and handle defensive tackles and 3-technique defensive ends. Nonetheless, the Vols landed a talented, smart player that, at worst, will provide quality depth for them. Ginther has a lot of tools to work with and is clearly focused on becoming the best football player that he can be.

2024 3-star OT Gage Ginther during his official visit to Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Gage Ginther)

Tennessee's 2024 Recruiting Class - * denotes NLI turned in

• Jake Merklinger, QB *
• Peyton Lewis, RB *
• Mike Matthews, WR *
• Braylon Harmon, WR
• Braylon Staley, WR *
• Cole Harrison, TE
• Bennett Warren, OT *
• Jesse Perry, OT *
• Gage Ginther, OT *
• William Satterwhite, OG *
• Max Anderson, OG *
• Kellen Lindstrom, DE *
• Carson Gentle, DE *
• Jeremias Heard, DL *
• Jordan Ross, EDGE *
• Edwin Spillman, ILB *
• Jordan Burns, ILB *
• Marcus Goree, CB *
• Kaleb Beasley, CB *
• Boo Carter, S *
• Edrees Farooq, S *

You Might Also Like:

• Joe Milton III Stars On Senior Night As Vols Crush Vanderbilt
• Cooper Mays Not Participating In Senior Day Activities
• Creating Atmospheres - Why Saturday Is Reflective of Josh Heupel's Work

Join the community:

• Follow Evan Crowell on Twitter: @EvanVCrowell
• Follow Caleb Sisk on Twitter: @CalebSisk_

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.