On Wednesday evening, Tennessee football pulled off the flip of four-star defensive lineman JJ Finch. It wasn’t just any flip, though. Finch was initially committed to Alabama, one of the Vols’ biggest rivals.
In a great way to win the heart of Tennessee fans, Finch threw an Alabama hat to the side while making the announcement. He first teased Purdue before placing it back on the table. Then, he put on the Crimson Tide hat before launching it into the crowd.
To make his decision final, he put on the Vols hat and unzipped his jacket to show a dark-mode No. 11 UT jersey. Kyle Neddenriep caught the moment on camera.
Jerimy Finch Jr makes it official pic.twitter.com/jSxxQu6LMA
— Kyle Neddenriep (@KyleNeddenriep) December 3, 2025
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Football’s 2026 Signing Class Ranks Nationally
Finch, a 6-foot-3, 278-pound defensive lineman from Indianapolis, originally committed to the Crimson Tide in late June. However, he was struggling to make a final decision between Tennessee and Alabama, according to a report from Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong.
Finch is a four-star recruit, according to Rivals. He is considered the No. 30 defensive lineman in the class by the service, as well. He played for Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was selected to the Navy All-American Bowl.
Tennessee signed 28 players in the 2026 class on Wednesday. The group is considered one of the better classes in college football, no matter the recruiting service you pick. On 247, it’s up to the No. 3 class, while on Rivals, it’s at No. 9. Both 247 Composite and Rivals Industry have it at No. 7.
On the defensive line, including edge rushers, the Vols hold signings from four-stars Carter Gooden, Zach Groves, Jordan Carter, Dereon Albert and Hezekiah Harris. Three-star prospects in the boat include Kedric Golston, CJ Edwards, Darryl Rivers and Nuk Simmons.
