This past weekend, Tennessee football got some great news on the recruiting trail. Four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II flipped his commitment from SEC foe Alabama to the Vols.
This now pairs up Simon with three-star linebacker JP Peace, who has been committed to Tennessee for a year now. This combination of backers committed to UT has been in the works for a long time. Not only are both in-state prospects, but they’re both sons of former Vols.
Simon is the son of Kevin Simon, while Peace is the son of Robert Peace and the grandson of former UT lineman and national champion head coach Phillip Fulmer.
That means both grew up around the program. After Simon’s commitment, Shayne Pickering posted a photo of the pair as kids with Fulmer, showing just how full circle this moment is.
The linebacker duo of Kenneth Simon II and JP Peace was always meant to be for the Tennessee football 2027 class
Two exciting in-state prospects that have grown up around the #Vols
(Photo via Simon II) pic.twitter.com/x7BkkXjwnH
— Shayne Pickering (@shaynep_media) June 13, 2026
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Kenneth Simon ranks as a four-star, according to 247 Composite. He is the No. 139 player in the class, No. 10 linebacker and No. 6 player from the state of Tennessee. After starting his career at Bearden in Knoxville, he now plays for Brentwood Academy outside of Nashville.
JP Peace is a three-star on 247 Composite’s rankings. He is slotted as the No. 584 player in the class, No. 46 linebacker and No. 27 player from Tennessee. He started his career at West in Knoxville, but now plays for Maryville.
Both Kevin Simon and Robert Peace played together at Tennessee in the early 2000s. Kevin Simon’s career spanned from 2001-05, while Robert Peace’s was from 2000-03. Fulmer was the coach at the time.
