It’s a two-team battle for Craig Tutt as official visits loom

Tennessee has been surging for Oakland defensive back Craig Tutt over the last several months. The Vols and Ole Miss appear to be a two team race heading into official visits next month. He was at 865 Live on Saturday and enjoyed the fun and laid back atmosphere.
“I mean, we were all just having fun, just kicking it,” Tutt said. “I know some of the guys or, really, most of them so we’re just all having fun together, really just taking our mind off football for a little second and just being together and having fun.”
He was in Knoxville back in April for spring practice. The Tennessee staff has been putting on the full court press to land him and getting him back to town was critical.
“Man, it’s always a good time when I come up here, like I said last time,” Tutt said. “It was just more clear, just having fun, just being more around the guys, being more around the coaches and just having fun.”
He loves spending time with Josh Heupel, Tim Banks and Levorn Harbin. Those relationships have been big for the Vols.
“What I love most is the coaches, man — the coaches, the culture,” Tutt said. “This place is just amazing. You know that when you step on campus, especially on game day. The fans are just on another level, so everything about this place is special, man.”
Tutt has been a safety at Oakland. This fall he will play more nickel with some corner mixed in. He is training to be as versatile as he can be for the next level.
Top 10
- 1New
Top 25 College QBs
Ranking best '25 signal callers
- 2
Top 25 Defensive Lines
Ranking the best for 2025
- 3
Big Ten Football
Predicting 1st loss for each team
- 4Hot
College Football Playoff
Ranking Top 32 teams for 2025
- 5Trending
Tim Brando
Ranks Top 15 CFB teams for 2025
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“Really, the message is I’m a great athlete,” Tutt said. “I can play somewhere. Wherever I can play, they’re going to find a spot for me, whether that’s nickel, strong safety, free safety.”
Tennessee will get the last shot at Tutt as he comes back to Knoxville on June 20th. These two visits are critical as he is hoping to find a future football home.
“Really, what I’m looking for is if I belong there,” Tutt said. “Just, really, if I belong. Really, I’m just going to see if I belong there. I love everything about both of the schools, so it’s really not too much that I need to see. It’s not too much else that I need to see, so I’m just going into the OVs to see what else I can find, like, a deeper dive.”
And no matter where he picks, he feels like both will set him up to succeed through their success.
“I love the coaches at both places,” Tutt said. “I love the culture at both places. I believe that both are winning programs, and I feel both have great things coming to them in the near future.”