Big news continues to roll in for Tennessee.
Talented cornerback Shamar Arnoux publically announced his commitment to Tennessee on Friday afternoon, giving head coach Josh Heupel and the Volunteers their first official commitment in the class of 2025.
Arnoux was in Knoxville for the Vols’ second scrimmage of the spring camp slate this past weekend. The class of 2025 Tennessee commit had taken a handful of visits to the program since the summer of 2022 as he continued to be intrigued and interested in what Heupel and his staff were building.
All of that intrigue and interest eventually turned into a commitment for the Volunteers’ future. Arnoux committed to Tennessee over Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, and Auburn.
Arnoux, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, is from Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. The height that Arnoux brings to the table continues a trend of tall secondary players Tennessee has been investing in. Twenty-four of Tennessee’s 27 current defensive backs on the roster stand at six-foot or taller.
“We love length,” Tennessee DB coach Willie Martinez said on Wednesday. “When you’re trying to go against these wide receivers that are tall and got great size, you want the length. It’s not just the height factor, you’ve got to have the long arms, you’ve got to have the speed, you’ve got to have all the other skill sets that you need. There is no doubt that we like to see those guys.”
More from RTI: Tennessee Stockpiling Young and Exciting Secondary Talent During Spring Camp
Shamar Arnoux ranks as a four-star prospect according to Rivals and a three-star prospect according to On3 Sports. Arnoux does not have rankings yet from ESPN and 247’s services.
Rivals’ recruiting rankings have Arnoux as the No. 213 player in the class, the No. 20 cornerback in the class, and the No. 24 player from the state of Georgia.
It’s clear to see just how much Tennessee has been working to strengthen its secondary for both the present and the future. With high-level secondary recruits in the 2023 and 2024 classes, plus the 2025 class now with Arnoux, Tennessee and Martinez are looking to cultivate major competition on the field.
- 2022 – Three-star DB Dee Williams
- 2023 – Four-star CB Jordan Matthews
- 2023 – Four-star CB Rickey Gibson III
- 2023 – Three-star S John Slaughter
- 2024 – Four-star CB Kaleb Beasley
- 2024 – Four-star DB/ATH Marcus Goree Jr.
- 2025 – Four/Three-star CB Shamar Arnoux
Arnoux is Tennessee’s second commitment of the day on Friday. The Vols also hauled in a commitment from three-star offensive tackle Jesse Perry in the class of 2024. Perry is Tennessee’s seventh commit to the 2024 class after the Vols brought in 25 players from the 2023 class alongside eight transfers.
