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Elite LB Christian Gass ready to be 'home', get career started on Rocky Top

4A3DA472-0F39-4C89-9987-5851509375C0by:Matt Ray•12/04/24•

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Christian Gass

Eastside High School (Ga.) standout linebacker Christian Gass had one of the most intense recruitments in the 2025 cycle. After choosing the Vols in the summer, his recruitment only picked up with nearby Georgia prioritizing him all the way to the finish line. Gass has officially signed with Tennessee is set to get started in Knoxville as an early enrollee later in the month.

“It is a big sense of relief,” the four-star told Volquest prior to signing his letter of intent. “All of the phone calls. All of those things. I am just blessed to be able to have all of these opportunities. All of these coaches and people at these big-time schools just come in contact with me. A lot of guys don’t get that. I am blessed, but it is going to be a good sense of relief to be home at Tennessee and get support from everybody and get to keep building relationships with the coaching staff. I am just ready to get there and do what I need to do.”

Gass will get his career started later in the month, and with Tennessee firmly in the playoffs, he is excited to get a firsthand look at how the Vols operate on daily basis as he gets his feet wet as a newcomer.

“Just getting there and seeing how everything is,” he said of this. “I want to be able to learn from these guys and knowing they are already so far in the season is big for me to just see how they practice and compete. Knowing I am coming straight in and they are in the playoffs, so their preparation is things they are doing every week, and I just want to learn from that to see how they do things from day-to-day.”

Gass was stellar at Eastside this fall and led them to the quarterfinals. He felt like he showed who he was as a playmaker and a leader.

“Honestly, that I am a playmaker and a leader,” Gass said of what showed on the field this fall. “Just going out there every day with my guys and knowing that I am not playing for myself, but I am playing for my team. Just being able to go out there and do my job and being a leader to all of my guys. Guys that are down after a play and just being able to pick them up after a play and lift their energy and have their mind on the right track.”

The Scout on Gass

“Christian Gass is one of the most physically gifted linebackers in the 2025 cycle. He has plus traits. He measured in around 6-2.5, 215 pounds. He has elite arms that measure in a shade under 34 inches and he can really run at that size. He clocked in at 11.3 in the 100 meters as a Junior. You can really see that show up on film. He can run sideline to sideline, and he can rush the passer. We see him do a variety of things and show off his versatility on his Junior film. I think Christian Gass has a very high upside. He is certainly not a finished product, which I think is exciting if you are a Tennessee fan. I think this is a guy who is going to continue to get better and better. He has shown continued improvement through his Junior season, and I think his combination of play speed, range, physicality, versatility and ability to rush the passer presents a really strong foundation for what he brings to the table as a linebacker prospect. Had 68 tackles and 11 tackles for loss as a Junior, and I expect those numbers to go up.  From a pure traits perspective, there is so much to like about him as a linebacker prospect. It is easy to see why he is so coveted and high on the board of programs that recruit nationally. To that end, I think he is a huge get for Tennessee. A guy who certainly has the athletic DNA at the position. Linebacker will be viewed as an increasingly athletic position. Traits of the position really matter, especially when we are looking at top NFL Draft Picks. I think Christian Gass checks a lot of the boxes we look for at the position. I am excited to see what he does as a senior, but there is no doubt he has a ton of physical talent and is a big pickup for Tennessee as they continue to add blue-chip prospects on the defensive side of the ball, which I think they have done a good job of under Josh Heupel.” –On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power said in July at the time of Gass’ commitment.

The Film

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