A 5-star wide receiver—one of the most coveted recruits nationally—decommitted from Ohio State, opting instead to commit to Tennessee. This decision shocked college football fans, particularly because he chose Tennessee over powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and even Ohio State itself .
- Elite pedigree: A 5-star prospect, typically ranked among the top 10–20 receivers in the 2025 class.
- Physical tools: Around 6’3″–6’4″, 200+ lbs, combining length, top-end speed, and elite catch radius .
- Highly sought: Consistently courted by national programs like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Penn State, and Ohio State .
- Early commitment to Ohio State
He originally pledged to the Buckeyes in a high-profile ceremony in mid-2024. - Reopens recruitment
Later, reevaluated his decision—responding to shifting program fits, on-field visions, or personal factors. - Switch to Tennessee
Picked the Volunteers in early April 2025, declaring they felt like “home” compared to Big Ten and SEC rivals .
Head coach Josh Heupel’s pass-driven offense is tailor-made for explosive receivers—think high volume, aggressive downfield strategy, and star-making plays .
Tennessee’s recent success with receivers like Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, and Bru McCoy shows a proven path to both SEC stardom and NFL draft success .
Strong bonds with Tennessee’s staff—especially WR coach—and comfort with campus, teammates, and fan energy sealed the deal .
- Class boost: Adds a top-tier offensive weapon to a 2025 class already heading into the Top 10 nationally .
- SEC swagger: Keeps Tennessee rising in the SEC wars, proving they can flip elite players from rivals like Ohio State .
- Momentum builder: Could spark a domino effect among recruits seeing Tennessee as the next hot destination under Heupel.
- Recruiting punch: Losing a 5-star receiver is a considerable setback—especially to a conference competitor .
- Reputational risk: Questions may arise about Ohio State’s current pull vs. its historical recruiting dominance.
- Roster gap: Ohio State may now pursue alternate targets or transfers to compensate.
- Flipping trend: Top recruits are increasingly open to decommitting late—driven by NIL deals, scheme fits, coaching changes, or personal comfort.
- SEC’s ascent: Moves like this amplify the SEC’s growing influence in talent acquisition nationwide.
- “Home vs. History”: Many recruits now weigh emotional and developmental fit alongside program prestige and NFL pipelines.
Should he suit up for Tennessee:
- Timeline: Likely to contribute early—possibly by mid-2025 or as a starter in 2026.
- Weapon profile: Expect deep threats and contested catch specialist roles in Heupel’s offense.
- Fantasy/NFL buzz: Success in Tennessee’s offense could make him a high NFL draft target and early fantasy favorite.
- Ripples in class: Will this trigger more players to re-evaluate their commits?
- NIL involvement: What financial incentives or campaign dynamics followed Tennessee’s offering?
- Ohio State’s counter: Which recruits or portal additions will fill the receiver void?
⚠️ Side note: This specific flip doesn’t seem linked to Chris Henry Jr. (who flipped to BYU), Jayden Gibson (Oklahoma→Tennessee), or DJ Pickett (Ohio State→Georgia)—though they reflect similar dynamics in prime wideout recruitment .
Tennessee’s snag of this elite receiver in the spring of 2025 is a game-changing moment: it shifts recruiting momentum within the SEC and nationally, further validates Josh Heupel’s offensive blueprint, and leaves Ohio State scrambling to recalibrate its prized wide receiver class. For Tennessee, though, this feels like destiny aligning—a massive step in their rise to contention in the college football elite.
