Tennessee football’s 45-24 loss to Vanderbilt in Neyland Stadium wasn’t the only defeat the Vols took in the in-state rivalry on Saturday. Just before the game, in-state 2027 four-star linebacker recruit Omarii Sanders committed to the Commodores over the Vols.
He was also considering Texas A&M, Georgia and Miami.
Out of Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, Sanders ranks as the No. 47 overall recruit in the country, according to 247. He is the No. 2 linebacker in the class and No. 4 player out of the Volunteer State.
Sanders has made multiple visits to Knoxville, but the latest came at the beginning of the season. He was in town alongside a stacked list of visitors for Tennessee’s game against Georgia in front of a ‘Checker Neyland’ crowd.
BREAKING: Elite 2027 LB Omarii Sanders has Committed to Vanderbilt, he tells me for @rivals
The 6’4 200 LB from Nashville, TN chose the Commodores over Tennessee, Texas A&M, & Georgia
He’s the No. 3 LB in the ‘27 Class (per Rivals)
“Anchor down ⚓️ “https://t.co/7aZxuaNHyn pic.twitter.com/xg2ywflNJn
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 29, 2025
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Tennessee holds four commitments in the class and one linebacker iis already in the boat. Tennessee’s group currently ranks as the No. 12 group in the country on 247. The linebacker is legacy recruit JP Peace, the son of Robert Peace and grandson of Phillip Fulmer. He plays at West in Knoxville and is a three-star.
The Vols have recruited linebackers extremely well under William Inge, as well. In the 2026 class, UT has landed top-100 recruits TJ White and Brayden Rouse, both of whom are considered some of the best at the position in the country. However, it was Josh Heupel, defensive coordinator Tim Banks and secondary coach Willie Martinez leading the charge for Sanders.
UT has also done a great job of keeping Tennessee talent in-state. In the 2027 class, the Vols have already earned the commitment of Peace and four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, the No. 6 player from the state in the cycle.
