Tennessee makes big move in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Josh Heupel and Tennessee landed another important commitment on Saturday, as Covington (Ga.) Eastside four-star linebacker Christian Gass pledged to the Volunteers, spurning in-state Georgia and others.

A top-100 prospect in the 2025 On300, Gass is the latest coveted recruit to join the rising pledge list on Rocky Top. The addition of the 6-foot-2.5, 220-pounder bumped Tennessee up three spots in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The Vols now have the No. 10 class in the nation.

“At Tennessee, their scheme fits me. I have watched film, I have been around the team and the coaches have shown me how I can make an impact,” Gass told On3. “The fit in their defense always stood out to me. I can do a lot of things at linebacker or when I am able to rush the passer.”

Of the 18 commits in Tennessee’s class, 10 are four-stars. Heupel and Co. continue to succeed recruiting in and around the Southeast.

Vols have healthy mix of top commits on offense and defense

Nashville Brentwood four-star quarterback George MacIntyre is no longer a five-star in the On3 Industry Ranking, but the gunslinger remains one of the top QB prospects in the nation heading into his senior season. Now the No. 50 recruit and No. 8 QB in the cycle, MacIntyre is one of four top-100 commits in the class.

Las Vegas Bishop Gorman four-star interior offensive lineman Douglas Utu is right behind MacIntyre at No. 53 overall and is also the No. 3 IOL in the nation. He joined the class on June 24, wasting no time after taking his official visit to Knoxville. Elkhart (Ind.) Central four-star EDGE Mariyon Dye committed just four days after and is a top-10 prospect at the EDGE position.

Atlanta Westlake four-star wide receiver Travis Smith also chose Tennessee over Georgia, pledging to the Vols on July 13. He is the No. 12 WR in the 2025 class and is one of two blue-chip wideouts in the mix for UT, flanking Memphis Sheffield four-star Radarious Jackson, On3’s No. 83 overall prospect.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Smith told On3. “At the end of the day, I felt Tennessee fit what I was looking for the best. From offensive productivity to the opportunity to shine in the offense to the scheme and just being in the best position to succeed.”

Nashville Ensworth four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley and Somerville (N.J.) four-star EDGE Jayden Loftin are both top-200 recruits. Other blue-chippers in the class are Dandridge (Tenn.) Jefferson County four-star IOL Nic Moore and Southlake (Texas) Carroll four-star tight end Jack Van Dorselaer.

Four of the top 10 prospects in Tennessee are currently committed to the Vols. Five in-state pledges are in the class overall, while Gass becomes the fifth Peach State product to commit this cycle.