Tennessee appears to be in a battle with SEC rival Alabama for a blue-chip defensive prospect from the 2027 recruiting cycle. According to a report from Rivals’ Chad Simmons on Monday, the Volunteers and Crimson Tide are “strong contenders” for four-star safety/linebacker Kenneth Simon II.
Simon is an in-state prospect from Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, TN. He’s also a versatile defensive athlete, with 247Sports listing him as the No. 11 linebacker in the class and Rivals tagging him as the No. 37 safety in the class. Tennessee linebackers coach and interim defensive coordinator William Inge is listed as Simon’s primary recruiter.
Rivals’ Industry Rankings have Simon as the No. 227 player in the class and the No. 9 player from the state of Tennessee.
If the name Simon rings a bell for Tennessee fans, it’s because it should. His father, Kevin Simon, was a standout Volunteer linebacker from 2001 to 2005. Simon was a two-time All-SEC selection at Tennessee and was an NFL Draft pick by the Washington Redskins in the 2006 draft.
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Tennessee and Alabama aren’t the only schools vying for the UT legacy’s commitment, though. Simon released a Top Eight over the weekend that included Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt. Simmons’ report on Monday states that “early signs point to two SEC rivals being in this one to the end.”
While in the midst of a standout season at Brentwood Academy, Simon was also busy on the recruiting trail in 2025. He stopped by games at Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt during the season, and projects to continue exploring his options as things progress, according to Simmons.
After picking up a pair of commitments in November, Tennessee Football now has four prospects lined up to its 2027 recruiting class: four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, three-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield, and three-star linebacker JP Peace, who is also a Tennessee legacy. Peace is the son of UT linebacker Robert Peace and the grandson of championship-winning coach Phillip Fulmer.
Robert Peace and Kevin Simon actually played in the same linebacker room at Tennessee from 2001 to 2003. Could their sons be lining up to do the same?
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football recruiting coverage.
