Jalen Smith, a three-star LB, commits to Tennessee

Loganville (Ga.) Grayson three-star linebacker Jalen Smith committed to Tennessee on Sunday. The 6-foot-2, 205 pound linebacker picked the Volunteers over programs including Pittsburgh, Texas and Virginia.

“I feel like they’re trying to do a lot and bring a big bang to that defense,” Smith said of Tennessee to On3’s Jeremy Johnson in June. “They’re ready to win and win now. It’s intriguing. You know there’s something special going on and it’s going to come soon. They’re ready to change that program. That’s special for me because I know there’s going to be change around there.”

Tennessee is now up to 18 commitments in the 2023 class with the addition of Smith. He is the Volunteers’ second pledge of the day following Platte City (Mo.) four-star EDGE Chandavian Bradley. The Volunteers opened the day at No. 12 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings, led by Long Beach (Calif.) Poly five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Murfreesboro (Tenn). four-star EDGE Caleb Herring.

Before his commitment, Smith traveled to Knoxville twice, including for an official visit on June 10.

“It was a good visit,” Smith told Johnson. Coach (Josh) Heupel spent time with me and my family and how important I was and how much of a priority I am to them. (Linebackers) Coach B.J. (Brian Jean-Mary) was talking to me about needing more guys in the program in that linebacker room like me with high character and work ethic. It was a great visit. I enjoyed every part of it.”

Smith also received offers from LSU, Miami, Oregon and USC among others.

Jalen Smith Recruiting Profile

Smith is the No. 473 overall prospect and No. 45 linebacker in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Smith has an On3 NIL Valuation of $19.7K. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.