Per multiple reports, Tennessee football has received a commitment from former Middle Tennessee State safety Jakobe Thomas who was originally committed to Oregon State as a transfer.
Thomas is a Tennessee native, as he played high school at Tullahoma High School before committing to MTSU as a member of the 2021 recruiting class.
Thomas will be a redshirt-junior next season on Rocky Top and has two years of eligibility remaining.
The former Blue Raider entered the portal the first day he was able following the season and took official visits to Ole Miss and Oregon State before committing to the Beavers on December 8.
Now eight days later, Thomas has de-committed from Oregon State and flipped to Tennessee after an official visit on Friday, December 15.
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The Tullahoma native is coming off an impressive 2023 campaign that saw him make 10 starts in 11 games. Thomas finished the season second on the team in tackles with 71, including three TFLs, five PBUs, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Thomas is a much-needed win for Tennessee given their secondary departures over the past couple of weeks. Six defensive backs have entered the transfer portal so far, inlcuding 2023 starters STAR Tamarion McDonald and cornerback Doneiko Slaughter.
Thomas’ addition significantly helps Tennessee’s depth, and if Wesley Walker and Gabe Jeudy-Lally were to return for their final years of eligibility next season, the Vols would have three experienced starters in the back end.
