The 2027 class is the priority at the moment, with official visits wrapping up, but attention is also on the future. For Tennessee football, that means getting in good graces for the class of 2028 as it looks to continue a string of solid classes.
In that effort, the Vols have positioned themselves nicely for one of the top recruits in the cycle. On Monday, five-star defensive back Case Barner named UT as one of the top 15 schools he is focusing on.
Tennessee joins Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, USC, Georgia, Texas Tech, Indiana, Alabama, Texas, LSU, Oregon, Notre Dame, Auburn and Oklahoma on his list.
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More From RTI:ย Where Tennessee Footballโs Recruiting Class Ranks After June Official Visits
Barner is slotted as the No. 6 overall recruit in the nation by 247 Composite. He is the No. 1 safety and No. 1 player in the state of Georgia. He is from Powder Springs, Georgia, where he plays for McEachern High School.
“Violent split safety that can get the ball back,” 247 director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote. “Flows downhill with authority and strikes with a compact frame. Competes as a man defender and covers turf zone looks. Sees the game better than most his age, yielding sharp angles…”
Barner will likely be primarily in contact with Anthony Poindexter on Tennessee’s staff. He joined this past offseason as Jim Knowles’ co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Currently, Tennessee does not hold any commitments in the 2028 class. It’s 2027 class still has work to be done, ranking as the No. 42 class in the nation 16 commitments in on 247.
