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Top-100 safety Lagonza Hayward decommits from Tennessee

hunterby: Hunter Shelton12/01/24HunterShelton_
South Carolina target Lagonza Hayward is pictured at his school (Photo: Chad Simmons | On3)
(Photo: Chad Simmons | On3)

Lyons (Ga.) Toombs County four-star safety Lagonza Hayward has decommitted from Tennessee, he announced on Sunday.

He was pledged to the Volunteers since July 27, when he chose Josh Heupel and Co. over the likes of Florida and Georgia.

“Thankful for Volnation and coaches for support and the trust they put in me but I have prayed on it for a long time so respect my decision but I will be decommiting from The University of Tennessee,” Hayward wrote on X, announcing his decision.

Hayward is the No. 81 overall prospect and No. 9 safety in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 12 player in Georgia.

On3 ranks the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 53 recruit, No. 3 safety and No. 5 player in the Peach State, per the 2025 On300.

Hayward was one of five top-100 recruits in Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class. He’s now back on the board with National Signing Day just three days away.

Volunteers lose crucial piece to 2025 class

The loss of Hayward leaves Tennessee with 24 commits in its 2025 class, which ranked No. 9 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings entering the beginning of December.

Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. continues to headline the class, though Ohio State has worked hard to flip the nation’s No. 6 recruit down the stretch. Sanders has been in the class since August.

Four-star EDGE Mariyon Dye pledged at the end of June and was soon followed by four-star wide receiver Travis Smith and four-star tight end DaSaahn Brame in July. All three are top-100 recruits.

Four-star quarterback George MacIntyre has been in the class since January and is now the No. 12 QB and top-ranked player in Tennessee this cycle. He’s one of four in-state blue-chippers in the class, alongside four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley, four-star wide receiver Radarious Jackson and four-star IOL Nic Moore.