4-star EDGE Kellen Lindstrom commits to Tennessee: 'It came down to a gut feeling'

Springfield (Mo.) Glendale four-star EDGE Kellen Lindstrom was largely down to two schools earlier this spring when he took visits: Oklahoma and Tennessee.

He tripped to see the Sooners in early March, a visit that in his mind put them on top. A little less than a month later, he was on Rocky Top for the Volunteers’ spring game, and that trip put them in the No. 1 position. A few days later, he visited the Sooners again. But that feeling he got in Knoxville couldn’t be overcome.

On Friday, he committed to Josh Heupel and the Volunteers, giving them another coveted piece in the 2024 recruiting class.

“I honestly felt at home there,” he told On3. “That was big for me — it just felt right when I was there. I trust Coach Heupel, I trust Coach Ekeler, and I know the guys there will take care of me. It came down to that gut feeling.”

Lindstrom was genuinely torn between both programs. Knoxville was a little further from home than Norman, and he felt that both programs were a great fit and could make him successful. But there was just a different feeling on his visit to Tennessee than he’d felt anywhere else.

“It was a very difficult decision to make,” he said. “The pros and cons kind of equaled out for me. But it came down to that feeling of where I felt most at home. That sounds simple, but that is what it came down to. I trust the coaches at both schools. I love the environments at both, but my gut took me to Tennessee.”

Relationships at Tennessee played a key role

Earlier this week was when Lindstrom knew he wanted to commit. Both programs reached out to get their final say, and by Tuesday he’d arrived at his choice. Not only did he want to evaluate the schools based on the football side, but also academically, culturally and whether he felt he could live there without football.

“The environment of the university set Tennessee apart, he said. “I love the town, the fans, the community, they’re all great people. There’s a great culture at Tennessee.”

Lindstrom’s relationship with outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler was also pivotal in the decision. The two have developed a strong bond over the course of his recruitment, and the trust factor was extremely high.

“I wanted to build a great relationship with him, and he did a great job with me and my family,” Lindstrom said. “I love his energy — Ekeler is the type of guy who never has a bad day. He breaks things down well and makes it simple. I am excited about working with him.”

Lindstrom has plans to take only one official visit, back to Rocky Top on June 9-11. He is locked in with the Volunteers, and he didn’t need any more time or any more visits to know that.

“I didn’t need official visits to solidify things,” he added. “I saw what both programs had to offer, and I didn’t need any more information. My gut told me Tennessee.”