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Tennessee football announces early enrollees and transfers for spring semester

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•01/24/25•

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OT David Sanders

The spring semester is underway for the University of Tennessee with classes beginning this past week. Winter workouts for the football team have also gotten started as the program officially announced 23 early enrollees from the Class of 2025 along with four mid-year transfers who have signed with the Volunteers.  

Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class ranked 10th in the country with 26 total commitments – headlined by five-star offensive tackle David Sanders. The Vols signed an additional 15 four-star rated prospects and 10 three-stars. Tennessee’s class ranked seventh in the Southeastern Conference.

UT’s transfer portal class was also confirmed on Friday with the additions of running back Star Thomas (Duke), offensive linemen Wendell Moe (Arizona) and Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame), and wide receiver Amari Jefferson (Alabama).

All newcomers are enrolled in classes and will be taking part in offseason football training. The program also officially announced the date of the annual Orange & White Spring Game that is set to take place on April 12 at Neyland Stadium. The official start of spring football practice will be released at a later date.

Along with the five-star offensive tackle (Sanders), Tennessee welcomes two fellow offensive linemen from the high school ranks in four-star Nic Moore and three-star Antoni Kade Ogumoro. Sanders, who was considered the No. 6 overall prospect by the On3 Industry Rankings, is expected to compete for the starting right tackle job this spring. Again, transfers Moe and Pendleton will get their first taste of the Big Orange this spring as well.

Joining transfer Thomas mid-year at the running back position is two players from the prep level in four-star Daune Morris and three-star Justin Baker. Baker was one of the earliest commits of the class – pledging his allegiance to the Vos in October of 2023 – while Morris was a late add after flipping from Southern Cal and singing in December.  

Alec Abeln welcomes two talented tight ends to his room this spring to add continual depth. Four-stars DaSaahn Brame and Jack Van Dorselaer will compete with fellow underclassman returner Cole Harrison for the third tight end spot behind starters Miles Kitselman  and Ethan Davis.  

Tennessee needs some answers at the wide receiver position this spring as the room witnessed a turnover of seven scholarship players from the 2024 roster. Joining mid-year transfer portal addition Jefferson is two early enrollees in four-stars Travis Smith and Radarious Jackson – both who were coveted heavily by other SEC schools up until Signing Day.

Georgie MacIntyre, the quarterback of the ’25 class, is on campus and ready to compete with redshirt-freshman Jake Merklinger for the backup job behind Nico Iamaleava this spring.  

The Vols welcome a large class on the defensive front with five defensive linemen set to be early enrollees. In-state four-star prospect Ethan Utley was an early commit while Top-50 prospect Isaiah Campbell joined the class late after a fall de-commitment from Clemson. Strongside defensive ends Jayden Loftin and Mariyon Dye will push for rotation spots next fall – though Loftin is coming off an injury. Christian Gass is listed as a defensive lineman by Tennessee and he very well could play the LEO position with the Vols on the defensive front. He was rated as a four-star linebacker coming up, and there’s always a possibility of him playing some in the box in the future as well thanks to the versatility.

Speaking of linebackers, Tennessee adds three this winter after successfully flipping the trio this past fall. In-state prospect Brendan Anes was a one-time Wisconsin commit and is fresh off a state runner-up season in 5-A with Page High School. Jaedon Harmon is poised to break into the linebacker rotation next fall as the Vols had to hold on until the very end to keep Alabama at arm’s length. Jadon Perlotte is also on campus after committing to a pair of west coast teams throughout the cycle before ending up in Tennessee’s class.

Long-time commits Dylan Lewis and Tyler Redmond of Alpharetta, Ga. comprise two-fifths of Tennessee’s secondary members in the class. Tre Poteat joins the duo as a cornerback. Sidney Walton and Timothy Merritt, who flipped late from Miami, are the safeties in the class.

Fellow commits Charles House on the defensive line and Joakim Dodson at wide receiver are not early enrollees. Cornerback Onis Konanbanny is still a part of the committed class but would have to sign in February to make it official. Several teams are still involved i that one.

Tennessee Early Enrollees

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