Herman Lathers, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound, three-star weakside linebacker from Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, La., finished his senior season (4-6) with 108 tackles, seven sacks and five fumbles caused. He also had one rushing touchdown and one interception returned for a score.
"I am always around the ball," Lathers said. "I never quit and fly to the ball well. I want to cover better and work on my change of direction and lateral movement."
Lathers, ranked as the No. 39 weakside linebacker in the country by Scout.com, said he actually made a commitment to Tennessee shortly following his official visit to the Vols on Nov. 2.
"A few days after I got back from my trip I called (linebacker) coach John Chavis and told him that's where I want to go. I committed to him. They were showing me the most love the whole time and I really like them.
"I'd say I'm a lock, but I'm still taking visits," he said. "I won't make a final announcement until Signing Day, but it's like 99.9 percent that I'm going to Tennessee."
The other trips that Lathers plans to take are to Tulane on Jan. 18 and Ole Miss sometime in January as well. "I think it's a big gain getting coach Houston Nutt," he said about the hiring of the new Rebels head coach. "Coach Ed Orgeron was a good coach, but statistically they weren't very good. Coach Nutt has a lot of experience and is a winning coach."
Lathers says he'd also like to visit Alabama, but the Tide haven't offered him. "They send me mail and seem a little interested."
Lathers said he has always followed LSU, but the Tigers never offered. "I went to a few games as a kid with my dad and had fun there."
Besides Tennessee, Tulane and Ole Miss, Lathers also has an offer from Baylor.
"Tennessee is a family," he said. "That's really my favorite thing about them. They really stick together and have each others back. I really got along well with all the guys on the team, especially the linebackers.
"Also it's crazy there during a game," he said. "It's one of the biggest crowds I've ever seen. They have a lot of support. I'm set on Tennessee, but I just want to explore and see what else there is. The coaches know and said they understand. They told me to go out and be sure."
Lathers reports a 3.8 core GPA and a 17 ACT, which he is retaking on Dec. 8.