Tennessee Football made a splash in the recruiting world on Saturday morning by flipping an Alabama commit into its 2027 class. Additionally, the player is the son of a former Tennessee standout in the 2000s.
The Vols received a commitment from four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II on Saturday morning, who is the son of former Tennessee linebacker Kevin Simon. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect originally committed to Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide program on May 11, but Josh Heupel and his staff kept their foot on the gas to eventually flip the legacy player.
Kenneth Simon ranks as the No. 138 player in the class, the No. 11 linebacker in the cycle, and the No. 6 player from the Volunteer State, according to Rivals’ Industry Rankings. He’s now the Vols’ second-highest rated commitment in the 2027 cycle, behind fellow Nashville prospect Kesean Bowman (WR).
Simon and Bowman both attend Brentwood Academy in Nashville, TN. Simon originally began his high school career at Bearden High School in Knoxville before transferring to Brentwood Academy in 2025. The duo helped lead their team to a 12-0 season and the TSSAA Division II-AA championship this past season.
This is a major recruiting win for Tennessee. The Vols stayed committed to their recruitment despite his previous commitment to Alabama, and we’re able to steal a rival’s impact player and keep a legacy player in the Volunteer State in one fell swoop.
More From RTI: Something Big To Watch For in the Tennessee Football Recruiting World on Saturday
Credit Tennessee linebacker coach William Inge for a major recruiting surge at his position over the last few years. Since the 2025 class, Inge has helped Tennessee land four-star Christian Gass, four-star Jadon Perlotte, four-star Jaedon Harmon, four-star TJ White, four-star Brayden Rouse, four-star Kenneth Simon, and others.
“Modern 3-4 linebacker projection with the athleticism, physicality, and awareness to play all three downs,” 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins writes in an evaluation. “…Displays impressive downhill thrust as he shoots forward and closes gaps. Swiftly changes directions from a second-level perch and takes sharp angles to the football… Dangerous on the blitz with his get-off and bend.”
Kevin Simon, Kenneth’s father, was a Tennessee linebacker from 2001-2005. He was a two-time Second Team All-SEC selection during his time in Knoxville (2003, 2005), and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. From an administration perspective, Simon has spent time as an NFL scout for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, while also serving as the director of player development for Tennessee Football.
Kenneth Simon is the 13th commitment in Tennessee’s 2027 recruiting class, according to Rivals. The Vols’ class ranked No. 33 in the country on Rivals ahead of the commitment, but moved three spots to No. 30 after the news.
Tennessee’s current class consists of four-star WR Kesean Bowman, four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, four-star OT Princeton Uwaifo, four-star TE Malik Howard, four-star DL Kadin Fife, three-star CB Dylan Haley, three-star S Jaden Butler, three-star LB JP Peace, three-star CB Slim Leavell, three-star quarterback Derrick Baker, three-star CB Carter Jamison, three-star LS Sam McKeown, and JUCO DL Christian Mays.
Check out some of Kenneth Simon’s impressive highlights here:
