Georgia linebacker Jalen Smith committed to Tennessee Sunday night via Instagram post.
“I will be committing to the University of Tennessee,” Smith said in the video. “Go Vols.”
The Vols beat out ACC foes Pittsburgh and Virginia as well as Texas for the high three-star recruit. Smith announced his mid-July decision date back in June and Tennessee was the perceived leader before the linebacker made it official Sunday night.
“Tennessee has amazing support and you can see that in the game,” Smith said in his commitment video.
Smith ranks as the No. 439 player and No. 40 linebacker in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. There are 400 five and four-stars in the 247sports composite rankings, putting Smith right outside the blue-chip range.
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The Grayson High School standout is a tackling machine. Playing at the highest classification in Georgia high school football, Smith totaled 173 tackles and 10 sacks during his 14 game junior season.
Grayson produces and abundance of power five talent including former Tennessee offensive lineman and five-star recruit Wanya Morris.
Smith is Tennessee’s second linebacker commit in the 2023 class, joining fellow Georgia native Jeremiah Telander.
The 6-foot linebacker becomes Tennessee’s 18th commit in its 2023 recruiting class and the sixth player to commit in the month of July. Josh Heupel and his staff have been on fire recruiting this summer, adding eight commits since late June with six coming on the defensive side of the ball.
Smith is the second commitment to Tennessee on Sunday, following five-star EDGE rusher Chandavian Bradley.
Smith’s commitment gives Tennessee the No. 5 recruiting class in the 247sports team rankings.
A look at newest #Tennessee commit Jalen Smith committing to Tennessee over #LSU. pic.twitter.com/Q4d5MeQetz
— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) July 10, 2022
