Tennessee Football had a big win on the recruiting trail on Monday by landing ex-Florida State commit Dayon “DayDay” Cooper. Josh Heupel and the Vols hosted Cooper for an official visit over the weekend and did enough to lock in the 2027 prospect and keep him in the Volunteer State.
The three-star athlete had been committed to the Seminoles since April 4, but decommitted from FSU on June 14 after his official visit in Knoxville. He previously took an official visit to Oklahoma State on May 29 and an official visit to Florida State on June 5, according to 247Sports’ recruiting timeline.
During the 2025 season, Cooper helped lead South Pittsburg High School to a Tennessee Division 1A state championship with a 14-1 record. According to 247 Sports, he racked up 421 yards and 10 touchdowns on 29 catches, while also rushing for 421 yards and five touchdowns.
In December 2025, Cooper was named the Tennessee Titans Division 1A Mr. Football selection as just a junior. Tennessee has already enrolled Division 1 Class 2A winner EDGE rusher Zach Groves from the 2026 class, and is currently in a heated recruiting battle for Division II Class AAA winner RB David Gabriel Georges.
According to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, Cooper ranks as a three-star prospect. He also lands as the No. 516 overall player in the class, the No. 32 athlete in the country, and the No. 22 player from the Volunteer State. While he’s tagged as an athlete on the recruiting sites, Cooper’s film shows him at multiple skill positions including wide receiver and cornerback.
247Sports lists Tennessee wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope as his primary recruiter, and Cooper tagged Pope in his official visit announcement post on Thursday morning.
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Cooper has an electric highlight reel at South Pittsburg High School in South Pittsburg, TN. He flashes great speed and strong instincts on both sides of the field, which plays well with his six-foot frame.
“Dynamic utility player that some schools view as an offensive weapon where others believe that the ceiling is higher as a coverage defender,” 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins writes. “…Displays good acceleration and top-end. Smooth in his transitions while in off-man looks. Dangerous in the quick passing game with his make-you-miss capabilities.”
Cooper is Tennessee’s third commitment in the last three days. The Vols flipped four-star legacy linebacker Kenneth Simon II away from Alabama on Saturday morning, and then landed a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Q’Mari Hudson on Saturday afternoon. Combined with Cooper’s commitment, Tennessee has had quite the recruiting stretch.
This also follows a stretch where Tennessee saw three commitments the previous weekend, too. During a big recruiting event in Knoxville last weekend, Tennessee landed commitments from four-star TE Malik Howard, JUCO defensive lineman Christian Mays, and three-star cornerback Dylan Haley.
With Cooper, Simon, and Hudson all now in Tennessee’s boat as of this weekend, the Vols now have 16 commitments in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
The Vols’ class consists of four-star WR Kesean Bowman, four-star LB Kenneth Simon, four-star OT Q’Mari Hudson, four-star TE Malik Howard, four-star OT Princeton Uwaifo, four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star ATH Dayon Cooper, three-star S Jaden Butler, three-star LB JP Peace, three-star CB Slim Leavell, three-star CB Dylan Haley, three-star QB Derrick Baker, three-star CB Carter Jamison, JUCO defensive lineman Christian Mays, three-star LS Sam McKeown, and kicker Ford Fehling.
Here’s a look at some of Cooper’s impressive highlights:
