After a long stretch of hard work on the recruiting trail, Tennessee landed an in-state defensive lineman to the class of 2025 on Thursday night.
Utley announced his commitment to Tennessee through Instagram Live. Tennessee beat out Michigan, Oklahoma, Syracuse, and Texas for Utley’s commitment.
ROCKY TOP IM HOME 🍊! #GoVols @coachjoshheupel @coachg76 @CoachTWalls pic.twitter.com/RcpWExQiTu
— Ethan Utley (@EthanUtley1) March 28, 2024
Utley is a stout defensive lineman from the class of 2025 at Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee. The 6-foot-3.5, 265-pound prospect is a big win for Tennessee in the midst of spring football and is the Vols’ first defensive lineman in the committed class.
Utley is a consensus four-star prospect according to On3, 247 Sports, Rivals, and ESPN. 247 Sports’ composite rankings have Utley as the No. 161 overall player in the class, the 19th-ranked defensive lineman in the nation, and the 4th-ranked player from the Volunteer State.
Led by primary recruiter Rodney Garner, who was extended through the 2025 season by Tennessee this offseason, the Vols’ long recruiting pursuit of Utley comes to a close with his commitment on Thursday night. Utley visited Tennessee more than any other school during his recruitment with three unofficial visits in the back half of 2023, a Junior Day appearance in February 2024, and an official visit set for this June, according to 247’s timeline.
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Utley is a multi-sport athlete who plays basketball for Ensworth and competes in track & field throwing events. The Tennessee native earned a selection on The Tennesseean’s Alll-Midstate Large Class first-team defense following the 2023 football season. The SEC culture runs deep in Utley’s family as his mother, Tracy Walls, was a former Georgia basketball player from 1992 to 1996, according to 247.
Utley is instantly the highest-rated defensive prospect and the second four-star prospect in the Vols’ class of 2025. Tennessee also has defensive commitments from three-star cornerback Tyler Redmond and three-star cornerback Dylan Lewis. The Vols previously held a commitment from three-star cornerback Shamar Arnoux until his decommitment from Tennessee in early February.
Other notable names from Tennessee’s seven-man class include five-star QB George MacIntyre, four-star tight end Jack Van Dorselaer, three-star WR Joakim Dodson, and three-star RB Justin Baker.
Prior to Utley’s commitment on Thursday night, Tennessee had the fifth-ranked class from the SEC in 247’s team rankings.
While Utley’s commitment didn’t push the needle to move Tennessee up and over Oklahoma for the fourth spot in the conference, it doesn’t lessen the impact of a stout four-star prospect with a high ceiling like Ethan Utley. Tennessee will use Utley’s commitment to continue to build momentum through the summer.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more coverage of Tennessee Football’s spring camp in Knoxville this month.
