What Daniel Calhoun Brings To The Table

Volunteer Country got up close with four-star offensive tackle Daniel Calhoun over the past week, as did the Tennessee Volunteers. Here's what we learned.

"He's a first-round pick at guard or tackle. He could play center if he wanted." That's what a Power-5 coordinator told me at practice this week while watching offensive tackle Daniel Calhoun. The mammoth tackle reminds me of... no one because we haven't seen a prospect with his sheer size in a few cycles.

I watched him twice this week, once at practice and once at Walton High School's scrimmage against Roswell. Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle stopped by the scrimmage and watched Calhoun intently. Alabama and Georgia are the two top dogs in his recruitment, with Tennessee and Texas trailing behind, fighting for positioning. He will take official visits to all these schools before making a decision.

Calhoun may play tackle in college, he may not. Volunteer Country projects him as a guard, but he could be a contributor at several spots along the offensive line. His sheer size is noticeable, and you feel it when he walks into a room. On Thursday night, he was surrounded by Power-5 prospects on both sides but stood out among the rest, flashing impressive technique despite still developing. Calhoun is playing and practicing against 6-1, 6-2 defensive ends. It's not that they aren't talented football players, but they aren't the physical specimens he will see in college. Therefore, he hasn't developed consistent pad leverage, meaning he must rely on hand placement in high school.

That's the No. 1 thing he must correct when he gets to college. He's also figuring out how to use and grow into his body. This isn't what Calhoun will look like when he leaves college, and he knows that. He knows his big but hasn't realized how to embrace it fully. When he does, defensive linemen, beware.

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