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Looking back at Tennessee Football's summer recruiting run

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey08/18/24

GrantRamey

Lagonza 'Shaedy' Hayward | UT Athletics
Lagonza 'Shaedy' Hayward | UT Athletics

Tennessee Football’s summer recruiting tear continued Sunday afternoon with the flip of four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon, who was previously committed to Alabama. It continued a massive weekend for the Vols, who added On3 five-star+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. on Saturday.

The two new additions put Tennessee at 15 commitments since the start of June, including five-star quarterback Fazion Brandon and four-star tight end Carson Sneed as the first two commitments in 2026, giving the Vols an elite start to the next class.

Of the 15 commitments, 12 are four-star prospects or higher in the On3 Industry Ranking, including two five stars. Harmon was the second flip, too, following four-star tight end DaSaahn Brame, a former Oregon commit who switch to Tennessee on July 28. 

Here’s a look back at Tennessee’s summer recruiting run to date: 

June

Jayden Loftin: The four-star edge rusher started Tennessee’s summer with a commitment on June 12. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Lofting, out of Somerville, N.J., is ranked No. 158 overall in the On3 ratings. He’s the No. 16 edger rusher in the class and the No. 5 player out of New Jersey. 

Nic Moore: Tennessee kept the four-star in-state interior offensive lineman home with his commitment on June 20. Moore, the 6-2.5, 290-pound prospect out of Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tenn., is ranked No. 211 overall in the On3 ratings. He’s the No. 12 interior offensive lineman and No. 6 player in Tennessee.

Charles House: The 6-3, 300-pound defensive lineman out of Charlotte, N.C., committed on June 22. He’s a four-star prospect in the On3 ratings, ranked No. 284 overall. He’s the No. 26 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 9 player in North Carolina.

Douglas Utu: Before the David Sanders Jr. commitment on Saturday, Utu was the highest-ranked prospect in the class. The 6-4, 315-pound interior offensive lineman, who committed on June 24, is the No. 55 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 4 interior offensive lineman and the No. 2 player in Nevada, out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He’s a five-star prospect ranked No. 13 overall according to ESPN’s rankings. 

Tre Poteat: The 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback committed to Tennessee on June 25 out of Verona, Wisconsin. He’s the No. 51 corner in the On3 Industry Rankings and the No. 4 prospect out of Wisconsin. 

Mariyon Dye: The four-star edge rusher ended the month on a high note when he committed to Tennessee on June 28. The 6-4.75, 268-pounder out of Elkhart, Indiana, is ranked No. 36 overall in the On3 Ratings. He’s ranked No. 9 among edge rushers and No. 2 in the state of Indiana. He picked the Vols over Ohio State.

July

Travis Smith: The four-star receiver started the new month with a commitment on July 13. The 6-3, 200-pound Smith, out of Westlake High School in Atlanta is the No. 59 overall prospect in the On3 Ratings. He’s ranked No. 10 at wide receiver nationally and No. 8 in the state of Georgia. 

Christian Gass: The 6-2.5, 220-pound four-star linebacker gave Tennessee a second straight commitment out of Georgia on July 20. Gass is the No. 85 overall player in the On3 Ratings, ranked No. 6 at linebacker and No. 14 in Georgia, out of Eastside High School in Covington.

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Shaedy Hayward: The 6-1, 205-pound four-star safety out of Toombs County High School in Lyons, Georgia, was the first of back-to-back commitments when he announced on July 27. He’s the No. 75 overall player in the On3 Ratings, ranked No. 4 at safety and No. 11 in Georgia. 

DaSaahn Brame: The former Oregon commitment flipped to Tennessee on July 28. The 6-4.5, 225-pound tight end, out of Derby High School in Derby, Kansas, is ranked No. 99 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 3 tight end in the country and the No. 3 player in the state of Kansas. 

Darrion Smith: The 6-2, 260-pound defensive lineman gave Tennessee three commitments in a span of four days when he pulled the trigger on July 30. He’s ranked No. 59 among defensive linemen in the On3 Industry Ranking and is the No. 18 overall player in Maryland, out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. 

August

Faizon Brandon: The five-star quarterback started Tennessee’s 2026 class of commitments with a bang on August 3. The 6-3.5, 195-pound Brandon, out of Greensboro, N.C., is ranked No. 10 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of North Carolina. 

Carson Sneed: Two days later, Tennessee added another huge name to its 2026 class, keeping four-star in-state tight end Carson Sneed home with a commitment on August 5. He’s ranked No. 9 among tight ends in the class and is the No. 4 player in the state of Tennessee, out of Nashville’s Donelson Christian Academy. 

David Sanders Jr.: The 6-5.75, 276-pound Five-Star+ prospect out of Charlotte, N.C., announced his commitment at long last on Saturday, picking Tennessee over Ohio State, Georgia and Nebraska. Sanders is the No. 4 overall player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking and is the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina. 

Jaedon Harmon: The four-star linebacker flipped his commitment from Alabama to Tennessee on Sunday. The 6-1, 205-pound Harmon, out of Rome High School in Rome, Georgia, is ranked No. 129 overall in the On3 Ratings. He’s the No. 13 linebacker in the country and the No. 20 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.

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