RTI)
On Friday morning, Tennessee football suffered a hit to its 2027 recruiting class. Cornerback Kamauri Whitfield announced he has decommitted from the Vols. He had been verbally committed since Oct. 15, 2025.
Whitfield is considered a three-star recruit by 247. The site’s composite rankings list him as the No. 443 player in the country, No. 44 cornerback and No. 48 player from the state of Florida. He plays for The First Academy out of Orlando.
In Whitfield’s decommitment announcement, he noted that changes in the coaching staff were the reason he backed off his pledge. He initially committed to defensive coordinator Tim Banks and secondary coach Willie Martinez.
Now, neither is employed with Jim Knowles taking over as defensive coordinator and Michael Hunter Jr. being named the cornerbacks coach. Hunter just left for the NFL for a job with the Indianapolis Colts, though.
The Vols are now looking to hire a new cornerbacks coach with Hunter departing. UT is in the process of winter workouts with spring practice approaching.
Here’s an updated look at where Tennessee’s 2027 class ranks with four commits in the boat following Whitfield’s decommitment.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Extends Early Offers to Multiple Class of 2029 Recruits
Team Ranking
- 247
- Nationally: 21
- SEC: 6
- Behind Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas, Georgia and Alabama
- Rivals
- Still not updated since the decommitment of Kamauri Whitfield on Friday morning
Player Rankings
In order of most recent to commit to first to commit
QB – Derrick Baker
- 247
- 3-star
- No. 47 QB
- No. 80 GA
- Rivals
- 3-star
- No. 23 QB
- No. 34 GA
DL – Kadin Fife
- 247
- 3-star
- No. 38 DL
- No. 35 GA
- Rivals
- 4-star
- No. 167 nationally
- No. 19 DL
- No. 23 GA
OT – Princeton Uwaifo
- 247
- 4-star
- No. 111 nationally
- No. 11 OT
- No. 6 TN
- Rivals
- 4-star
- No. 183 nationally
- No. 17 OT
- No. 7 TN
LB – JP Peace
- 247
- 3-star
- No. 39 LB
- No. 19 TN
- Rivals
- 3-star
- No. 34 LB
- No. 16 TN
