A closer look at Tennessee football's 2024 recruiting class

Tennessee football on Wednesday added the biggest name to date to its 2024 recruiting class, with the addition of five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews. The 6-foot-0.5, 180-pound Matthews, out out of Liburn, Georgia, picked the Vols over Georgia, Clemson and Southern Cal.

The addition of Matthews, the No. 14 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking helped Tennessee make a huge jump in the 2024 team recruiting rankings, moving up six spots to No. 8 overall nationally and No. 5 in the SEC, with a class score of 90.98.

Matthews is the 17th commitment in Tennessee’s 2024 class. He’s the lone five-star prospect and comes in ahead of 10 four-star prospects and six three-stars.

Here’s a complete rundown of the 2024 class for Tennessee in its entirety:

5-Star WR Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews, the 6-foot-0.5, 180-pound five-star wide receiver in the On3 Industry Ranking, committed to the Vols over Georgia, Clemson and USC on Wednesday. He’s out of Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia and is ranked No. 14 overall in the On3 Industry Ratings. He’s ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.

4-Star CB Kaleb Beasley

Kaleb Beasley, the in-state four-star cornerback out of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, is ranked No. 133 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. The 5-foot-.11.5, 168-pound Beasley, who committed to the Vols last October, is ranked No. 18 among cornerbacks and is the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee.  

4-Star QB Jake Merklinger

Four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger, out of Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia, is ranked No. 135 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Merklinger is the No. 8 quarterback in 2024 and is ranked No. 22 overall in the state of Georgia. He committed to the Vols back in March. 

4-Star WR Braylon Staley

Four-star wide receiver Braylon Staley committed to Tennessee in June out of Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina. The 6-foot, 180-pound Staley is ranked No. 137 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 24 wide receiver in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of South Carolina.

4-Star TE Jonathan Echols

Four-star tight end Jonathan Echols was the first commitment for Tennessee in the 2024 class,  picking the Vols on July 4, 2022. The 6-foot-3.5, 215-pound Echols, out of Franklin, Georgia, is the No. 142 overall player in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 13 among tight ends and No. 22 overall in the state of Florida, where he attends IMG Academy.

4-Star RB Peyton Lewis 

Four-star running back Peyton Lewis, out of Salem High School in Salem, Virginia, committed to Tennessee in May. He’s ranked No. 181 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 14 running back in the class and is ranked No. 3 overall in the state of Virginia. He’s high school teammates with four-star linebacker Chris Cole, the No. 53 overall player in the On3 Industry Ranking and another Tennessee target.

4-Star ATH Boo Carter

Four-star athlete Boo Carter, the No. 2 overall player in the state of Tennessee, committed to his home-state Vols in June. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Carter, a Chattanooga native who attends Bradley Central High School, is ranked No. 204 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 9 athlete in the class.

4-Star IOL William Satterwhite

William Satterwhite, the four-star interior offensive lineman out of Akron, Ohio, committed to Tennessee on July 7. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Satterwhite is ranked No. 214 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 12 interior offensive lineman and is ranked No. 9 overall in the state of Ohio.

4-Star IOL Max Anderson

Four-star interior offensive lineman Max Anderson committed to Tennessee on June 21. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder out of Frisco, Texas, is ranked No. 281 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked as the No. 14 interior offensive lineman and is the No. 40 overall prospect in the state of Texas. 

4-Star EDGE Kellen Lindstrom 

Four-star edge rusher Kellen Lindstrom, a 6-foot-6, 240-pounder out of Springfield, Missouri, is ranked No. 281 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 20 edge rusher in the class and is ranked No. 7 overall in the state of Missouri.

4-Star S Marcus Goree 

Four-star safety Marcus Goree is ranked No. 356 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 36 among safeties and is the No. 9 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Goree is a Cleveland, Tennessee, native and is teammates with Boo Carter at Bradley Central High School.

3-Star LB Jordan Burns

Three-star linebacker Jordan Burns, the 6-foot-1.5, 215-pound prospect out of Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, is ranked No. 420 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 38 among linebackers and is No. 46 overall in the state of Georgia.

3-Star S Edrees Farooq

Three-star safety Edrees Farooq, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder out of Baltimore, Maryland, is ranked No. 533 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 50 among safeties and is No. 17 overall in the state of Maryland.

3-Star OT Gage Ginther

Three star offensive tackle Gage Ginther, a 6-foot-6, 280-pounder out of Fort Collins, Colorado, is ranked No. 575 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 36 among offensive tackles and is No. 1 overall in the state of Colorado.

3-Star DL Jeremias Heard

Three-star defensive lineman Jeremias Heard, a 6-foot-8, 293-pound prospect out of Rome, Georgia, is ranked No. 731 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 73 among defensive linemen and is No. 89 overall in the state of Georgia.

3-Star DL Carson Gentle 

Three-star defensive lineman Carson Gentle, a 6-foot-4, 236-pound prospect out of McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is ranked No. 801 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 78 among defensive linemen and is No. 21 overall in the state of Tennessee.

3-Star OT Jesse Perry

Three-star offensive tackle Jesse Perry, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is ranked No. 1,014 overall in the the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s ranked No. 73 among offensive tackles and is No. 34 overall in the state of Tennessee.