Tennessee entering historic territory with elite recruiting class

Tennessee is on a crazy recruiting run and it’s pushing the Volunteers up in the team rankings to a place where they haven’t been in about a decade.

Four-star edge rusher Hezekiah Harris flipped to the Vols in recent days from Auburn. Days before that, five-star receiver Tristen Keys flipped from LSU to pair with five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon.

A week before Keys’ decision, Tennessee flipped four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair from South Carolina.

July was especially good for coach Josh Heupel and his staff as they beat Utah, Michigan and others for four-star athlete Salesi Moa, finally landed in-state four-star athlete Joel Wyatt after some discussions about his future position and loaded up with eight other commitments.

One of them was three-star safety Jowell Combay from Marietta (Ga.) Kell, who picked the Vols over South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri and others and followed his Kell teammate, four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse, who pledged to Tennessee the day before.

“Very excited about the potential of this class I’m a part of,” Combay said. “I feel like it’s part blue-chip and part underrated dogs who all have the same mindset to contribute and win early.

“The potential to make an impact early along with the belief system the coaching staff has in me (led to the commitment). They have a plan and it’s to win and with me a part of it, I can’t wait.”

Tennessee currently ranks eighth in the team rankings and if signing day was today that would mark the highest finish for the Vols since ending up fourth in 2015. Only five previous times dating back to 2005 has Tennessee finished with a top-10 recruiting class.

From Day 1 of this recruiting class – five-star Brandon was Tennessee’s first commitment more than a year ago – the Vols have steadily built one of the best groups in the country. 

After Brandon, Tennessee got lucky since one of the best receivers nationally – four-star Tyreek King – plays down the road at Knoxville (Tenn.) Knoxville Catholic and he wanted to jump on board as well. King has been committed to the Vols since Halloween.

“What sold me the most on Tennessee was the coaches and their offensive play style knowing I could go somewhere and fit right in,” King said. “Beyond excited and ready about our class. We’re going to be hard to stop.”

This is also a Tennessee recruiting class built from the inside out. There are 11 states represented but there are eight in-state players, the most in at least five recruiting classes.

Six of the top nine players in the Tennessee state rankings have also picked the Vols. Last recruiting cycle, it was only four. The one before that, it was only two.

One of those in-state recruits – and the biggest one at nearly 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds is Gabriel Osenda from Chattanooga (Fla.) Baylor School, who picked Tennessee over Florida, South Carolina and others.

He’s ready to get to Knoxville and get Tennessee back in title contention.

“The culture at UT is what really sold me,” Osenda said. “They want players to be elite on and off the field. I’m really excited about this group. A lot of elite talent they have on the boat. It’s exciting.”