Tennessee football lost one of its top rated commitments in its 2025 recruiting class on Sunday afternoon when four-star safety Lagonza “Shaedy” Hayward de-committed after spending four months committed to Josh Heupel and his staff.
A pair of Tennessee football commits didn’t take too kindly to Hayward backing off his commitment and took subtle shots at the blue-chip safety Sunday on X (Twitter).
“Might of forgot the definition of commit..I’m here to stay,” four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley posted.
Might of forgot the definition of commit..I’m here to stay 🍊 #GBO pic.twitter.com/AiFT0EET3D
— Ethan Utley (@EthanUtley1) December 2, 2024
Utley was one of Tennessee’s first commits in the 2025 recruiting cycle, picking the instate Vols in March over a top group that included Michigan and others.
A Nashville native, Utley ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 187 player in the country nationally according to 247sports composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 21 defensive lineman nationally and the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee.
There was more Tennessee commits that subtweeted Moore and that was four-star interior offensive lineman Nic Moore.
“When you pick a side you stay there. GBO,” Moore posted.
When you pick a side you stay there. GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/nhFYixWI0b
— nic moore⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@nica48188) December 2, 2024
Moore is another instate prospect, playing his high school football not far from Knoxville at Jefferson County. The Dandridge native committed to Tennessee back in June over West Virginia.
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Moore ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 265 player in the country according the 247sports composite rankings. He also ranks as the No. 14 interior offensive lineman in country and the No. 6 player in the state of Tennessee.
When you pick a side you stay there. GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/nhFYixWI0b
— nic moore⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@nica48188) December 2, 2024
Three-star offensive lineman Antoni Kade Ogumoro also got in on the action, tweeting “still locked in” with a picture of him and Josh Heupel.
still locked in. 🍊 pic.twitter.com/2YO37h9xZT
— Antoni Kade Aguon Ogumoro (@antonikaogumoro) December 2, 2024
Hayward was Tennessee’s second highest rated commit in its 2025 recruiting class, ranking as a top 100 safety. Only five-star offensive tackle David Sanders ranks higher than the Georgia native does.
Both Georgia and Florida have been working to flip Hayward from the Vols in recent months after he committed to Tennessee over them back in August. Hayward visited Florida last weekend before announcing his de-commitment from Tennessee.
The Vols’ 2025 recruiting class currently contains 24 commitments ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 7 in the SEC according to the 247sports team rankings.
