Former Vols tight end takes a closer look at USC

Tight end Kyle Oliver of Jones County Junior College (Mississippi) made an unofficial visit to South Carolin on Sunday with his parents and his younger brother.

Oliver played one season at Jones and is an early enrollee, though he said he won’t sign Wednesday, the first day mid-year recruits can sign. He’s looking at late December or early January for a decision.

Oliver is from La Vergne, Tenn., near Nashville, and he signed with Tennessee last February. He enrolled there last summer, then realized he was caught up in a numbers game at his position and was told he wouldn’t go on scholarship until 2016.

“I was over recruited,” he said. “It was a packed house. It felt like they were thinking up ways to release me.”

He landed at Jone, where in five games this season he caught eight passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. USC has not yet offered, but he and Will Muschamp had a good meeting Sunday.

“It went real well,” he said. “I like the coaching staff they have there now. I like the campus a lot. I like the facilities. They are going to get this program moving in the right direction. They talked to me about coming in and playing right away. They like my size and length on the end. They know I can make those blocks and flank out in the passing game.”

Oliver has offers from Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Missouri. He’s also getting interest from Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU. He has not taken any official visits and won’t be able to because of the dead period. He said USC recruiter Bobby Bentley has been talking with him the most, and he’s also talking a lot with Vanderbilt.