Tennessee hoping to make splash with 4-star CB Kam Mikell during upcoming visit

With the December signing period edging closer, the amount of elite prospects still on the board dwindles day by day. Tennessee has already compiled the No. 7 recruiting class in the nation — per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking — but the Volunteers are still after multiple blue-chippers down the stretch.

Josh Heupel and Co. will welcome a growing list of recruits to Knoxville this weekend as Tennessee hosts South Carolina. One of, if not the most coveted uncommitted prospect that will be on Rocky Top in the coming days is Statesboro (Ga.) four-star cornerback Kam Mikell.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder doubles as an elite offensive weapon and ranks as the No. 130 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The Volunteers have long been involved in Mikell’s recruitment, but have a chance to make a real splash with the athlete late in the recruiting process this weekend. Volquest’s Matt Ray joined On3’s Josh Newberg to detail just how important this upcoming visit will be for Tennessee’s chances to land Mikell’s pledge.

**Subscribe to the On3Recruits YouTube channel**

Tennessee battling other SEC contenders

This weekend will be Mikell’s third visit with Tennessee this year. Only South Carolina and Georgia have had as many or more, with the in-state Bulldogs leading the way at five documented trips. Colorado received an official visit at the beginning of September, while Kentucky is set for an OV at the end of October. Texas A&M is also a finalist for Mikell and may be the top challenger to Tennessee, according to Ray.

“This is an important visit for Tennessee, they’ve been at or near the top for Kam for a little while now, but other teams are continuing to swing really hard there, feels like Texas A&M’s probably the biggest threat to Tennessee right now to me,” Ray said. “But you can’t rule out the home state Georgia, they’ve recruited him as a defensive back for the duration … For Kam, I think ultimately he wants to play offense and that’s something that’s resonated well with the pitch he’s received from Tennessee.”

The CB told Ray at the end of August that he and Heupel talk “almost weekly, and their relationship is strong.” Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope has also been in the mix for the Vols, who continue to push hard for Mikell’s commitment.

Decision could be approaching for Mikell

Mikell is yet to announce a commitment date, though his visit schedule points toward a decision coming before the signing period. Georgia currently leads for Mikell, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), but Tennessee could vault up to the top by making an impression this weekend.

“It felt like at one point, Kam was probably going to decide sometime in mid-to-late November, it feels like that timeline is shifting up a little bit, closer to late October, early November. If you’re Tennessee, you’ve had some staying power in his recruitment, but you’ve got to knock this visit out of the park,” Ray said.

…He’s seen all these schools, I think he’ll probably end out the month of October on an official visit at Kentucky right now is the plan, he’ll see Texas A&M at some point, we’ll see if he makes it back to Georgia, or if he trips anywhere else, but this is a big visit for the Vols, because it might be the last time you get Kam Mikell on campus before he makes a commitment decision.”

Tennessee’s OV with Mikell was originally planned for Nov. 18 when the Vols hosted Georgia, but he opted to push it up, which again points toward the DB wanting to get his ducks in a row sooner rather than later. While a commitment may come sooner than originally expected, Mikell isn’t rushing into making a decision.

“I think this recruiting process has picked up to a point for Kam that he’s feeling more comfortable, he’s heard all of the pitches, he’s seeing these schools one more time and as he works through that, he’s doing a lot to check everything off of his list that he needs to see before making a commitment,” Ray said.