Tennessee football has made the cut for one of the top athletes in the 2027 class. According to Hayes Fawcett, four-star recruit Myson Johnson-Cook has narrowed down his list to 12 schools, including the Vols. UT joins the likes of Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Miami, Missouri and Illinois on the list.
Johnson-Cook ranks as the No. 35 player in the 2027 class, according to 247 composite. He is the No. 2 athlete in the cycle, although 247 does list him as a running back, as well. It’s unclear at the moment what position Tennessee is recruiting him at. Along with his talent as a running back, he also plays linebacker.
Johnson-Cook is from East St. Louis, Illinois. He ranks as the top player in the state.
“Intriguing multi-positional prospect who could play running back or linebacker in the long run,” 247 scouting analyst Gabe Brooks wrote. “Largely played the former as a sophomore in a breakout campaign that featured 900-plus yards and 14 TDs on 10.4 yards per carry for a perennial TXHSFB power. Straight-line hole puncher with acceleration and top-end speed verified by exceptional 100-meter times, especially for a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder. Upright runner but physical superiority creates yards after contact. More north-south or one-cut runner than move-stringing second-level magician, which is not necessarily a bad thing considering elite size/speed combination…”
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The Vols offered Johsnson-Cook back in March of 2024. Tennessee was one of the first schools in the mix for the standout, though he has not publicly announced any visit to Knoxville.
UT currently holds two commitments in the class. One is legacy linebacker, JP Peace, grandson of Phillip Fulmer and son of Robert Peace. The other is cornerback Kamauri Whitfield. Both are three-star prospects.
Tennessee is also in the mix for top-10 recruit Cooper Witten. He is a linebacker prospect out of Texas and the son of former Vol star Jason Witten. Another name to keep a close eye on is five-star running back David Gabriel Georges out of Baylor School in Chattanooga.
