Tennessee football remains in the mix for one of the top running backs in the 2027 class. Last week, the Vols were officially named one of the remaining five schools in the hunt for four-star back Jerry ‘Andrew’ Beard.
Beard listed UT alongside Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma and Alabama, according to Hayes Fawcett.
He is ranked as the No. 62 player in the 2027 cycle on 247. The site also places him as the No. 4 running back and No. 6 player from the state of Georgia in its rankings. He plays for Prince Avenue Christian School out of Bogart, Georgia.
Beard was on campus for a game day visit when Tennessee hosted Georgia for its ‘Checker Neyland’ game. While the Vols lost in overtime to the Bulldogs, it still left a positive impression on him.
“Enjoyed being back at Tennessee!,” Beard wrote on X. “Love how Tennessee and (running back coach DeRail Sims) use the RBs! Great Gameday visit and Neyland is definitely the loudest stadium!”
Enjoyed being back at Tennessee! Love how Tennessee and @DeRailSims use the RBs! Great Gameday visit and Neyland is definitely the loudest stadium! @pacsfootball1 @DAWGHZERECRUITS @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/G745fpYKqf
— Jerry “Andrew” Beard II (@jabeard2027) September 14, 2025
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Beard currently stands at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, according to 247. His father, Jerry Beard Sr., was a running back at Appalachian State from 2000-02. His uncle, Garrison Hearst, was a running back for Georgia, who finished third for the Heisman Trophy in 1992. Hearst was also a two-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL.
The Vols recently landed a near-top-100 recruit in the 2027 class in offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo. He is Tennessee’s third and highest-ranked commitment to the 2027 class. He sits alongside three-star linebacker JP Peace, who committed back in June, and three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield, who committed in mid-October.
Uwaifo’s commitment also sent Tennessee a good bit up the early recruiting rankings, with the Vols moving from No. 21 to No. 15 in 247’s team rankings.
