Recruiting in college football all comes down to a decision. Camron Douglas and Malik Ganaway wanted to play football in the SEC. The Volunteer State natives passed on scholarship offers from HBCU football programs to walk on with the University of Tennessee in 2022. Now, the defensive duo is not only staying in their home state but is embracing their opportunity to play at the HBCU level for head coach Eddie George and Tennessee State University.
Camron Douglas and Malik Ganaway’s football careers have been mirror images of one another for the past two years. They turned down scholarships at other schools for a priority walk-on opportunity at the University of Tennessee.
Cameron Douglas, a defensive lineman from Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee had offers from Vanderbilt, Memphis, and an offer from in-state HBCU Tennessee State University. But all it took was a visit to Rocky Top to make him want to stay in-state and play in the SEC.
“It’s always been a school I’ve watched and loved,” said Douglas in a 24/7 article about his commitment. Ranked as the No. 189 defensive lineman in the 2022 class and the No. 52 senior from Tennessee, the thought of Saturday afternoons in orange was too much to pass up.
The same proved true for Malik Ganaway. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back had scholarship offers from UT Martin, Alabama A&M, and Lane College. Still, visiting a Power Five football facility swayed the Trenton, Tennessee native to walk on in Knoxville.
“I went up there for a visit on (Saturday), and they showed us new improvements they are adding to (their) rehab facilities, training facilities, and the stadium. At the moment, I knew I wanted to be a part of the Vols,” Ganaway told 24/7 Sports.
Since signing to Tennessee in 2022, neither Douglas nor Ganaway saw any action on the field. They head to Nashville to join head coach Eddie George and the resurgent Tennessee State University Tigers hoping to make an impact on the field at their in-state HBCU.
After signing with TSU, Malik Ganaway sent a post on social media showing his excitement to join the culture at Tennessee State, “What we building here at TSU isn’t for everybody!!! This is where winners win at ðŸ….”