With the 2022 recruiting cycle in the rear-view window, the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Josh Heupel have turned their full attention to next year’s class. On Sunday afternoon, Heupel and the Vols landed a commitment from class of 2023 in-state wide receiver Nate Spillman.
Spillman, a three-star receiver according to Rivals and 247 Sports, made his announcement on Sunday through a post on social media.
“First of all, I thank God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love at a high level,” Spillman said in his post. “Nothing would be possible without Him. I also want to thank my family for being a constant support system. Thank you to Coach Dilfer, the Lipscomb coaching staff, and all my Lipscomb teammates for pushing me every day to be the best player I can be. Coach T Barr, thank you for your help with the recruitment process. I have made the decision to continue my academic and football career at the University of Tennessee!!!”
1000% COMMITTED GBO🍊🍊@DilfersDimes @LAmustangFB @ChadSimmons_ @CoachTBarr pic.twitter.com/Hc5Ewysqsq
— Nate5Spillman (@nathanspillman3) March 6, 2022
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While playing for Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, TN, Spillman has been coached by former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer since his hiring in 2019. Dilfer led the Baltimore Ravens to the NFL’s top prize during the 2000 season.
Standing just over 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 194-pounds, Spillman had a total of five receiving touchdowns during the 2021 season, according to 247.
With just three scholarship offers on the table, Spillman has been weighing his options for a few months now as the pieces fit into place. But at the very least, Tennessee and Spillman have been in communication for a long time now.
Spillman was originally extended a scholarship offer from Tennessee on Jan. 23, 2020, under the Jeremy Pruitt administration. However, after the turnaround in the program that would come by the end of the next season in Knoxville, not much happened over the next year and a half.
The three-star receiver from Nashville did visit Knoxville for a camp in June of 2021, which would have been during Heupel’s first initial off-season as head coach. During that same month, Marshall University offered Spillman a scholarship, followed by former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and Arkansas State six days later. However, Spillman ended that month by taking his first unofficial visit to Tennessee a few days after getting the two new offers.
Spillman was also in Knoxville during the football season in October when the Vols took down South Carolina by a score of 45-20.
Nate Spillman is now the fourth commitment to Tennessee’s 2023 class and the third player on the offensive side of the ball. With his announcement on Sunday, Spillman will be joining three-star safety Jack Luttrell, three-star offensive tackle Ayden Bussell, and four-star tight end Ethan Davis. According to 247 Sports’ rankings, Tennessee’s class is currently sitting at No. 18 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC.
