Tennessee is throwing a spring party in Knoxville this weekend… for the recruits, that is. The party for the fans will come before games in Neyland Stadium this fall.
All eyes will be on Tennessee’s 865 Live recruiting event across Memorial Weekend, a time in which Josh Heupel and his staff can host some of the top talent in the country including five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench and five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr.
Tennessee will host players from the 2025 and 2026 classes on Saturday as part of the event, giving various recruits from different levels the chance to see what the Vols’ program is all about.
Before the event kicks off, though, let’s look backward.
Tennessee currently has 10 commitments in their 2025 class, led by five-star in-state quarterback George MacIntyre Jr. The Nashville-area quarterback is the fifth-ranked quarterback in the class and gave Tennessee a landmark piece to build the class around.
Josh Heupel has a trio of four-star commits behind MacIntyre with defensive lineman Ethan Utley, tight end Jack Van Dorselaer, and wide receiver Radarious Jackson. Both Utley and Jackson are also in-state prospects as Heupel looks to close down the borders for the Volunteer State when it comes to recruiting.
Tennessee has six three-star prospects lined up in the 2025 class, evenly split between the offensive and defensive sides of the football.
Wide receiver Joakim Dodson, offensive tackle Antoni Kade Ogumoro, and running back Justin Baker make up Tennessee’s offensive three-star commits while safety Sidney Walton, cornerback Tyler Redmond, and cornerback Dylan Lewis are on the defensive side.
Tennessee is consistent across the four major recruiting networks when it comes to the 2025 rankings. On3 Sports, 247 Sports, and ESPN all have Tennessee ranked with the No. 14 class in the nation. On3 has Tennessee as the eighth-ranked team from the SEC while 247 and ESPN have the Vols at the seventh spot in the conference.
“The Volunteers won a key recruiting battle to keep MacIntyre, the highest-ranked player in Tennessee and one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, at home. He’s a tall, rangy quarterback who also excels at basketball,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert wrote about the Vols’ class.”…Keeping tackle Utley at home was a big win for Tennessee’s defensive line. He has a nice frame to develop along with good reach and first-step quickness.”
Rivals, meanwhile, has Tennessee at No. 12 in the nation and No. 6 in the SEC.
More from RTI: Important Dates to Know for the Vols’ 2024 Football Season
Here’s a look at where Tennessee’s recruiting lands before the big 865 Live event in Knoxville this weekend:
- Tennessee National Rank: No. 12
- Tennessee SEC Rank: No. 6
- Tennessee National Rank: No. 14
- Tennessee SEC Rank: No. 7
- Tennessee National Rank: No. 14
- Tennessee SEC Rank: No. 7
- Tennessee National Rank: No. 14
- Tennessee SEC Rank: No. 8
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football recruiting news.
