2023 three-star LB Jalen Smith finds consistency in Tennessee

Loganville (Ga.) Grayson three-star linebacker Jalen Smith has committed to Tennesee. The No. 473 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings has known for a while that the Volunteers had something the other programs didn’t.

Smith’s official visit settled things. That was his aha moment on the Volunteers. He felt like a priority for the Volunteers from the beginning.

“They had consistent contact between coach B.J. (Brian Jean-Mary) and coach Josh Heupel and coach (Tim) Banks talk to my family all the time, they check up on me,” Smith told On3. “They just have that family relationship. They’ve built that bond right. They’ve been consistent.”

Smith feels like a natural fit in Tennessee’s defense. He’s the second inside linebacker to commit to the Volunteers in the class of 2023. He joins fellow Georgia native Jeremiah Telander as the future play callers of the Volunteers’ defense.

Talking with Banks and Jean-Mary throughout his recruitment, Smith has been prepped for the role as a Will linebacker. Smith has also taken note of the pedigree of Tennessee’s brain trust.

“Coach Banks and coach B.J. are great defensive minds,” Smith said. “They play in the best conference and they play on the biggest stage. I feel like they’re going to put me in the right spots on defense at the will spot.”

The Tennessee fan base also has been a refreshing piece of the puzzle while courting the Volunteers.

“Their fan base is crazy,” Smith said. “When I went there for my official, there were some fans around and they were saying ‘come home’ and stuff like that. They were very supportive.”

Jalen Smith is ready to help build a contender

Smith is Tennessee’s 16th commit in the class of 2023. The Volunteers are working toward building a contending program.

Smith’s next set of priorities is selling the Volunteers to any other recruits that will listen. The class of 2023 has begun to hear and see the expectations and excitement mounting.

“We’re going to try and get some more people,” Smith said. “We want to be the best class and come in and win a lot of championships, games and get Tennessee back to where it should be… It feels good. We’re going to do some big things at Tennessee. We’re going to be back on top.”