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Tennessee trending for nation's No. 4 safety Lagonza Hayward

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by:Keegan Pope•07/15/24•

bykeeganpope

Four-star DB and South Carolina target Lagonza Hayward pictured at his school (Photo: On3)
(Photo: On3)

Lyons (Ga.) Toombs County four-star safety Lagonza Hayward is set to commit in less than two weeks, with Florida, Georgia and Tennessee vying for his services.

He took official visits to each program this summer, and while the Vols were considered the leader heading into those visits, the momentum seemed to change after each trip.

Josh Heupel and Co. did get the last shot at him the weekend of June 21 though. And since then, he has been trending back in Tennessee’s direction.

On Sunday, Georgia recruiting insider Jeremy Johnson logged an expert pick in the Vols’ favor in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

That prediction, along with a previous one from On3’s Steve Wiltfong in early April, has Tennessee as the favorite to land Hayward on July 27.

“The way they went about recruiting me from the beginning means a lot,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons of the Vols in June. “They believed in me early. Tennessee offered me before the stars, so they have been heavy with me from the jump,” Hayward said of the Vols. Coach Banks, Coach Martinez, Coach Heupel and almost the whole staff recruits me. They have never let up. From the first time I visited Tennessee, I felt it could be the place I want to be at. The people are great and the atmosphere is electrifying.”

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Hayward talks other finalists

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder also spoke with Wiltfong about what makes each of the schools he took official visits to a contender for him:

Florida: “The visit to Florida was good,. Kinda made the decision 10 times harder but it’s part of it. They give me great vibes and it’s great being around them.”

Tennessee: “It was good getting back up there. “(They’re) the people who’ve been on me the longest and trusted my talent early in the process.”

Georgia: “The program (would) prepare me to be effective in the league and Georgia looks after you after football is over with and that’s something I really love.”

Hayward is tabbed by On3 as the nation’s No. 4 safety and No. 75 prospect overall.