Tennessee football has signed a top-15 recruiting class in five consecutive cycles, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. It has some work to do if it wants to crack the top 15 with its 2027 class.
The Volunteers have the No. 19 class in the nation, as of Aug. 13. There are 19 total commits in the mix for head coach Josh Heupel and Co. The class jewel is one of the nation’s top overall prospects who plays not too far from Knoxville.
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The recruitment of Baylor School (Tenn.) Five-Star Plus+ running back David Gabriel Georges was a heated one. Numerous contenders emerged for the Québec, Canada native, but it ultimately came down to Tennessee and Ohio State. The Buckeyes had momentum at points, but in the final week before his decision, arrows pointed toward Rocky Top. He pledged to the in-state program on July 22.
“I feel like Tennessee is building and bringing in top players that will make an immediate impact, and they made it very clear that they see me the same way and that I am their top priority for 2027,” he previously told Rivals.
Gabriel Georges is the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect and No. 2 RB. He’s the eye-catcher, but he’s far from the only in-state blue-chipper in the Tennessee class. Each of the Vols’ five highest-ranked commits will play their senior high school season in the Volunteer State.
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Nashville Brentwood Academy four-star wide receiver Kesean Bowman is the nation’s No. 10 pass-catcher. His teammate, four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, is a top-15 recruit at his position. Murfreesboro Siegel four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo has been in the class since November, while Oak Ridge four-star tight end Malik Howard was a big summer pledge in June.
Eight of the 19 commits in the class are of the blue-chip variety. The haul also ranks 9th in the SEC, ahead of Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Below is an updated look at who’s locked in with the Vols, as of Aug. 13:
Tennessee Commitments by Position
Quarterback
Three-star Derrick Baker, No. 779 NATL. (No. 40 QB)
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Running Back
Five-Star Plus+ David Gabriel Georges, No. 8 NATL. (No. 2 RB)
Three-star Asa Barnes, No. 552 NATL. (No. 40 RB)
Wide Receiver
Four-star Kesean Bowman, No. 65 NATL. (No. 10 WR)
Three-star Dayon Cooper, No. 710 NATL. (No. 97 WR)
Tight End
Four-star Malik Howard, No. 226 NATL. (No. 10 TE)
Offensive Tackle
Four-star Princeton Uwaifo, No. 192 NATL. (No. 15 OT)
Four-star Niko Kampas, No. 283 NATL. (No. 25 OT)
Three-star Q’Mari Hudson, No. 418 NATL. (No. 33 OT)
Defensive Lineman
Four-star Christian Mays, No. 2 JUCO (No. 1 DL)
Linebacker
Four-star Kenneth Simon II, No. 146 NATL. (No. 12 LB)
Three-star JP Peace, No. 605 NATL. (No. 47 LB)
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Cornerback
Three-star Dylan Haley, No. 542 NATL. (No. 58 CB)
Three-star Slim Leavell, No. 646 NATL. (No. 74 CB)
Three-star Carter Jamison, No. 1,095 NATL. (No. 116 CB)
Safety
Four-star Marcus Jones, No. 273 NATL. (No. 23 S)
Three-star Jaden Butler, No. 597 NATL. (No. 57 S)
Specialty
K Ford Fehling
LS Sam McKeown
