Local DL ‘Speechless’ After Vols Offer, Eyes Knoxville Visit
May 15, 2025 – Oakridge, TN
Oakridge High School junior defensive lineman Marcus “Tank” Holloway had just finished a grueling spring workout when he got the call that left him frozen in place.
“I was literally speechless,” Holloway said, shaking his head with a smile. “Coach Banks from Tennessee called and said they were officially offering. I thought it was a prank at first.”
But it was very real. The 6’4”, 285-pound Holloway — known for his brute strength and unrelenting motor — is now on the radar of one of the SEC’s most tradition-rich programs.
Holloway, a three-sport athlete with a 3.7 GPA, has seen his recruiting stock rise steadily over the past year. He totaled 13 sacks and 27 tackles for loss last season and has clocked a 4.9-second 40-yard dash — impressive for a player his size.
But the offer from Tennessee is a different level.
“I grew up watching the Vols,” he said. “My whole family’s from here. That orange means something. I just didn’t expect it to happen this soon.”
The Oakridge staff says the Vols have been showing interest for months but ramped up contact after Holloway’s dominant showing at a recent regional camp in Nashville.
Head coach Dan Traylor wasn’t surprised.
“He’s got SEC-level power, no question,” Traylor said. “But what separates Marcus is his character and coachability. He’s a beast on the field, and a leader in the locker room.”
Holloway says he’s planning to visit Knoxville within the next few weeks to tour the facilities, meet the staff in person, and take in the campus atmosphere.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “I’m still hungry, still working. But yeah — this one hit different.”
The Vols join Kentucky, Louisville, and Appalachian State among programs who have offered. With summer camps on the horizon, expect that list to grow.
