Tennessee football enters the early signing period with 21 commits as head coach Josh Heupel puts the finishing touches on his third full singing class in Knoxville.
The Vols enter Wednesday with the nation’s No. 13 recruiting class and the SEC’s eighth-ranked class and their recruiting class seems set barring a major surprise.
It’s expected to be a slow day for the Vols but we’ll keep you updated on all of Tennessee’s early signing period movement including when the current Vol commits ink their NLI.
The highly touted Notre Dame tight end committed to Tennessee over a top group that included Georgia, Oklahoma and Washington last week after catching 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Staes is the top-ranked transfer tight end according to the 247sports transfer portal rankings.
Jakobe Thomas, Safety (MTSU transfer)
247sports: Three-star
On3: NR
Thomas was originally committed to Oregon State before flipping his commitment to Tennessee over the weekend. The Tullahoma native totaled 71 tackles and five pass deflections as a sophomore last season.
The MTSU transfer ranks as the No. 134 player and No. 12 safety in the 247sports transfer portal rankings.
Jermod McCoy, Cornerback (Oregon State transfer)
247sports: Four-star
On3: Three-star
McCoy started signing day with a boom for Tennessee football, committing to the Vols over Washington, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
The Texas native started at corner as a true freshman for Oregon State last season where he totaled 16 tackles, seven pass deflections and two interceptions. McCoy ranks as the No. 82 player and No. 9 cornerback in the transfer portal according to the 247sports transfer portal rankings.
Boo Carter, Athlete
ESPN: Four-star
On3: Four-star
Rivals: Four-star
247sports: Four-star
Carter committed to Tennessee in June over a top group which included Colorado and Michigan. The Vols survived a late push from the Buffs who attempted to flip the blue-chip recruit. Tennessee’s concerns of a flip ended when Carter showed up on campus for bowl practice last week.
The Chattanooga native ranks as the No. 144 player nationally and the No. 2 player in the state of Tennessee according to the 247sports composite rankings. Carter could play either receiver or safety in college but is going to start his college career at defensive back where he has a real opportunity to earn early playing time.
Jake Merklinger, Quarterback
ESPN: Four-star
On3: Four-star
Rivals: Four-star
247sports: Four-star
Tennessee’s lone quarterback commit in its 2024 recruiting class, Merklinger committed to the Vols in late March over North Carolina and Georgia. There’s less hype around Merklinger than Nico Iamaleava last year or the Vols’ pursuit of George MacIntyre in the 2025 recruiting cycle but Merklinger is still a very capable quarterback.
Merklinger ranks as the No. 129 player and No. 10 quarterback in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The blue-chip recruit arrived on campus for bowl practice over the weekend and while he won’t start as a freshman he will compete for the backup quarterback position.
Marcus Goree Jr, Safety
ESPN: Three-star
On3: Four-star
Rivals: Three-star
247sports: Three-star
Goree was one of Tennessee’s first commits in its 2024 recruiting class, committing to the Vols in late February. A Cleveland, Tennessee native, Goree is teammates with Boo Carter for state semifinalists Bradley Central. And like Carter, Goree arrived on campus last week to go through bowl practices.
The safety ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 517 player in the country and No. 10 player in the state of Tennessee according to the 247sports composite rankings. Goree isn’t a definite instant impact player but the Vols are so thin at safety that he’ll have an opportunity to play as a freshman.
Braylon Staley, Receiver
ESPN: Four-star
On3: Four-star
Rivals: Four-star
247sports: Four-star
Staley committed to Tennessee in late June over a top group which included Clemson, Miami and North Carolina. The Johnston, South Carolina native was a four-star recruit when he committed to the Vols but has moved up the recruiting rankings further after a stronger senior season.
The 6-foot receiver ranks as the No. 141 player and No. 23 receiver in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. Staley enrolled early for bowl practices and like Matthews will try to claim a role in Tennessee’s receiver room as a freshman.
Mike Matthews, Receiver
ESPN: Five-star
On3: Four-star
Rivals: Five-star
247sports: Five-star
Matthews is the highest rated commit in Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class and chose the Vols over Clemson, Georgia and Southern Cal in July. The Atlanta native has already arrived on Tennessee’s campus and is going through bowl practices this month before officially enrolling in classes in January.
The 6-foot-1 receiver ranks as a five-star commit and the No. 20 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. Matthews also ranks as the nation’s fifth best receiver and the fourth best player in the state of Georgia. The blue-chip recruit will have a chance to compete for early playing time though that’s no guarantee in a crowded, but not elite, Tennessee receiver room.
Edrees Farooq, Safety
ESPN: Three-star
On3: Three-star
Rivals: Three-star
247sports: Three-star
Farooq committed to Tennessee in April after visiting Knoxville for the Vols’ Orange-and-White game. A Maryland native, Farooq boasted offers from a number of power five schools before committing to the Vols over Maryland and Virginia Tech.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 567 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. Like the rest of Tennessee’s safety signees, Farooq will have a chance to earn early playing time. However, a special teams role seems more likely in Farooq’s freshman season.
Gage Ginther, Offensive Tackle
ESPN: Four-star
On3: Three-star
Rivals: Four-star
247sports: Three-star
A longtime Tennessee recruiting target, Ginther committed to the Vols over instate Colorado in early April. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound offensive lineman could play tackle or guard in college but will likely start at tackle due to the Vols’ depth concerns there. Ginther arrived in Knoxville last weekend to take part in bowl practices.
Ginther ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 542 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The Fort Collins, Colorado native is unlikely to make an instant impact in Knoxville as a freshman.
Jamal Wallace, Defensive Lineman (JUCO)
ESPN: NR
On3: Three-star
Rivals: Three-star
247sports: Three-star
Wallace is Tennessee’s second most recent commit, announcing his decision to transfer to the Vols over Houston, South Florida and Utah State on Sunday night. A Kansas City native, Wallace played two years of junior college football at California’s Sierra College. A remarkable story, Wallace played receiver and defensive back in college before converting to a defensive end at Sierra.
The 6-foot-2, 302-pound prospect ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 36 junior college player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. Tennessee isn’t in desperate need of defensive line help but Wallace will have a chance to earn a role on the Vols’ defensive line next season.
Cole Harrison, Tight End
ESPN: NR
On3: Three-star
Rivals: Three-star
247sports: Three-star
California tight end Cole Harrison committed to Tennessee football on Tuesday night after officially visiting Knoxville last weekend. The 6-foot-6 tight end committed to the Vols over Washington State, Houston and Pitt.
Harrison ranks as a three-star recruit and the No. 1,143 player and No. 62 tight end nationally according to the 247sports composite rankings. The San Mateo native is the Vols’ lone tight end in their recruiting class and while Tennessee isn’t super deep at tight end, it seems unlikely that he would be an impact freshman next season.
