Tennessee rises to No. 9 in On3 Industry Team Rankings

Tennessee entered 2023 with three commitments in its 2024 class. That number has steadily grown since the beginning of the year and is now at 11 following the commitment of Springfield (Mo.) Glendale four-star edge Kellen Lindstrom.

Lindstrom’s pledge elevated the Volunteers’ 2024 recruiting class to No. 9 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Tennessee’s group, which also ranks No. 1 in the SEC, rose two spots from No. 11.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound EDGE is the No. 233 overall prospect and No. 18 EDGE in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 7 player in Missouri.

Tennessee extended an offer to Lindstrom on Jan. 19 and he visited Knoxville for the first time on April 1.

“I really like Mike Ekeler,” Lindstrom told On3. “I like the energy that he brings to us and I really like Knoxville and the area and the people there, as well as Tennessee and the facilities. Coach (Josh) Heupel is a real genuine guy. He brought us into his own house for a recruiting dinner and showed us a good time.”

That lone trip to Knoxville and the relationships he built with the Volunteers’ coaching staff was all Lindstrom needed to make the decision.

“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.”

Lindstrom adds to solid class for Josh Heupel

Josh Heupel’s second recruiting class with Tennessee showed promising signs for the future. The Volunteers finished the 2023 recruiting cycle with the No. 13 class in the country highlighted by one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Nico Iamaleava.

That class on top of what the Volunteers accomplished on the field in 2022 has helped Josh Heupel and his coaching staff when it comes to building their 2024 class.

Prior to the start of the new year, the Volunteers had three commitments with four-star tight end Jonathan Echols, four-star cornerback Kaleb Beasley and three-star defensive lineman Carson Gentle.

Three-star safety Marcus Goree became the Volunteers first commitment in 2023 and a week after his commitment they landed a pledge from four-star wide receiver JJ Harrell.

Tennessee was able to build upon that momentum during the spring landing six new commitments since four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger committed to the Volunteers on March 30. Of their 11 pledges so far, six are on the defensive side of the ball.