One of Tennessee football’s longest-tenured targets is off the board. Four-star cornerback Ashton ‘Ace’ Alston committed to Notre Dame on Tuesday morning. This choice came over other finalists, including the Vols, Ohio State, Missouri, Indiana, LSU and USC.
Alston ranks as the No. 115 player in the 2027 class, according to 247 Composite. This is good for being considered the No. 11 cornerback in the cycle and the No. 2 player out of Ohio. He currently plays for Anderson in Cincinnati.
He made the decision official during a livestream on the CBS Sports YouTube channel.
“I’ve just been looking for a great environment, great brotherhood, great locker room,” Alston said during his commitment on CBS Sports. “I want a coach that is going to coach me hard on the field and off the field, as well. I’m just looking for that great culture to be around.”
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Alston stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 175 pounds. 247 analyst Andrew Ivins noted that he is an ‘instinctive defensive back with natural coverage skills that isn’t afraid to mix things up in run support and has done so while facing top Ohio-based competition’ and ‘showcases impressive hip turn and lateral quickness as both a man and zone defender.’
The cornerback prospect has held a Tennessee offer since Jan. 23, 2024. This made the Vols one of the first teams to get in on his recruitment. Since his offer, he’s made his way to Knoxville at least eight times, including as recently as a game day visit this season to see UT beat Arkansas.
The Vols currently hold four commitments in the 2027 cycle. This is headlined by in-state offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo. He ranks as the No. 110 player in the country and holds four-star status, via 247. Three-star commitments in the boat so far include defensive lineman Kadin Fife, cornerback Kamauri Whitfield and linebacker JP Peace. The group ranks as the No. 13 class in the country on 247.
Josh Heupel just inked one of the best classes in the country for the 2026 cycle, as well. His signing class clocks in as the No. 4 group in the country on 247, including signings of a trio of five-star prospects.
