Three Tennessee commitments and a slew of targets for the Vols were on the move in the updated Top247 for the 2025 class released on Wednesday.
Patrick Brown
Three of Tennessee’s commitments and a slew of players the Vols could host on official visits next month are ranked among the nation’s top prospects in the updated Top247 for the 2025 class that 247Sports unveiled on Wednesday afternoon. The rankings got a refresher for the first time since March as recruiting is about to pick up across the country during the summer months full of visits and ensuing commitments. Included in the update were moves for three Vols commitments, plus a fourth who got a fourth star from 247Sports.
Of the Top247 commitments for the Vols, quarterback George MacIntyre, who recently landed an invite to the Elite 11 Finals, remained a five-star prospect, and defensive lineman Ethan Utley made a big move up the rankings, which expanded the five-star field to 32 players – the rest are four-stars.
The Vols will look to add to their No. 13-ranked class by hosting several five-star, top-100 and Top247 prospects in June.
Here’s a look at where Tennessee’s three commitments and top targets were ranked in the updated Top247 for the 2025 class.
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OT DAVID SANDERS JR. | CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Providence Day School)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 2 overall prospect, No. 1 offensive tackle (five stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 3 overall prospect, No. 1 offensive tackle (five stars)
Tennessee hosted the five-star offensive tackle on visits on back-to-back weekends last month as he saw a spring practice and then the Orange & White Game. Sanders is scheduled to take his official visit to Tennessee the weekend of June 14 and also has trips lined up to Clemson, Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State having already seen South Carolina and Nebraska. The Buckeyes, Tigers, Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are Tennessee’s chief competition for the top offensive lineman in the class.
OT JOSH PETTY | ROSWELL, GA. (Fellowship Christian School)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 14 overall prospect, No. 2 offensive tackle (five stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 13 overall prospect, No. 2 offensive tackle (five stars)
The Vols offered Petty in March 2023 and hosted him twice last spring and again in the fall for the game against Georgia. Petty didn’t make it back up to Tennessee during the spring, but the Vols are scheduled to host him on an official visit the weekend of June 7. He’ll also see Georgia Tech, Clemson, Oregon, Stanford, Florida State and Auburn in the coming weeks.
EDGE JARED SMITH | ALABASTER, ALA. (Thompson HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 18 overall prospect, No. 2 edge (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 19 overall prospect, No. 2 edge (five stars)
Tennessee hosted Smith on a pair of visits in both 2022 and 2023, when he was on campus for the win against Texas A&M last October. The Vols are slated to host him on an official visit the weekend of June 14. Tennessee is battling Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Florida State and the in-state Iron Bowl duo for one of the top defenders in the class.
WR CALEB CUNNINGHAM | ACKERMAN, MISS. (Choctaw County HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 22 overall prospect, No. 3 wide receiver (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 22 overall prospect, No. 3 wide receiver (five stars)
The Vols hosted Cunningham on a pair of visits last year, and he was back on campus for a spring visit last month. He’s scheduled to return on an official visit the weekend of June 14. His other stops lined up so far include Alabama, Auburn and Florida as Tennessee has a lot of competition for Cunningham.
WR JAIME FFRENCH | JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (Mandarin HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 30 overall prospect, No. 4 wide receiver (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 25 overall prospect, No. 4 wide receiver (five stars)
The former Alabama commitment has been a top target for the Vols since January, and he made it to Tennessee for a visit in March. He’s expected back for an official visit the weekend of June 14. Ohio State is the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite and Ffrench has upcoming officials lined up for LSU, Miami and Texas.
QB GEORGE MACINTYRE | BRENTWOOD, TENN. (Brentwood Academy)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 10 overall prospect, No. 3 quarterback (five stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 30 overall prospect, No. 5 quarterback (five stars)
Tennessee’s prized quarterback pledge committed to the home-state Vols in January, choosing them over Alabama and a host of others after making the trip to Knoxville at least nine times between June 2022 and just before his announcement. MacIntyre, who got five-star status from 247Sports back in March having already been a five-star in the 247Sports Composite, has continued to recruit hard for the Vols as they try to build a stellar class around him. Alabama and Florida State continue to recruit him, but he’s locked in with Tennessee and will represent the Vols at the Elite 11 Finals next month after getting an invite this week.
WR DEREK MEADOWS | LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Bishop Gorman HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 32 overall prospect, No. 5 wide receiver (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 32 overall prospect, No. 6 wide receiver (five stars)
After getting a Tennessee offer in February, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound pass-catcher from the same high school that produced Cedric Tillman visited the Vols for the Orange & White Game. He is scheduled to kick off his official visits with Tennessee the weekend of May 31. From there he will see Georgia, Notre Dame and Alabama.
EDGE DAMIEN SHANKLIN | INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (Warren Central HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 47 overall prospect, No. 6 edge
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 48 overall prospect, No. 5 edge
Shanklin visited Tennessee for the Georgia game shortly after getting an offer from the Vols last November. He’s scheduled to be back at Tennessee for an official visit the weekend of June 14. He’ll also visit LSU, Ohio State and Alabama in the coming weeks.
LB ERIC WINTERS | ENTERPRISE, ALA. (Enterprise HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 49 overall prospect, No. 6 safety
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 53 overall prospect, No. 5 safety
Winters got an offer from Tennessee last summer and has made two visits since, checking out the win against South Carolina last fall and returning in March. The Vols are scheduled to host him on his final official visit the weekend of June 21. He’ll see Miami, Georgia and Auburn the preceding weeks, and the Tigers have the lone 247Sports Crystal Ball pick for him.
EDGE ZION GRADY | ENTERPRISE, ALA. (Enterprise HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 55 overall prospect, No. 8 edge
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 75 overall prospect, No. 10 edge
Grady visited Tennessee once in 2022, returned for the “Rocky Top Kickoff” event last July and made his third trip to Knoxville late last month. He’s slated to return for an official visit the weekend of June 14. Grady’s upcoming trips include Florida State, Miami, Auburn, Georgia and Ohio State.
SAF LAGONZA HAYWARD | LYONS, GA. (Toombs County HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 74 overall prospect, No. 7 safety
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 82 overall prospect, No. 6 safety
Tennessee offered Hayward while he was on campus for the Connecticut game last November. He returned to Rocky Top to watch a spring practice in March and is slated to make his final official visit to Tennessee the weekend of June 21. His stops before then include Florida State, Florida, Southern California and Alabama.
CB DARYUS DIXSON | SANTA ANA, CALIF. (Mater Dei HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 89 overall prospect, No. 8 cornerback
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 96 overall prospect, No. 11 cornerback
Dixson visited Tennessee in January. He’s scheduled for an official visit to see the Vols again the weekend of June 14. Miami, Washington, Auburn, Georgia, Penn State and Southern California are the other contending schools for him.
OL DOUGLAS UTU | LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Bishop Gorman HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 97 overall prospect, No. 4 interior offensive lineman
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 101 overall prospect, No. interior offensive lineman
Utu got an offer from Tennessee all the way back in the fall of 2022, and he made his first visit to check out the Vols last month. They could host him on an official visit next month. He took an official visit to Washington earlier this month and the contenders for him include Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Southern California.
TE DA’SAAHN BRAME | DERBY, KAN. (Derby HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 98 overall prospect, No. 4 tight end
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 102 overall prospect, No. 5 tight end
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound pass-catcher visited Tennessee twice in 2023 and was in Neyland Stadium for the Texas A&M game. He returned in March to check out a spring practice and will be back next month on an official visit the weekend of June 14. He’ll also visit LSU, Oklahoma and Oregon having kicked off his officials at Ole Miss last month.
OT LAMONT ROGERS | MESQUITE, TEXAS (Horn HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 102 overall player, No. 10 offensive tackle
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 103 overall player, No. 9 offensive tackle
Rogers was slated to visit Tennessee for the Orange & White Game last month but didn’t make it to campus. The Vols continue to recruit him, though. His scheduled official visits so far include SMU, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
LB JADON PERLOTTE | BUFORD, GA. (Buford HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 92 overall prospect, No. 12 linebacker
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 114 overall prospect, No. 15 linebacker
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has been committed to Georgia since December 2022, but is continuing to keep his options open. He has official visits lined up in the coming weeks to Alabama, Miami and Auburn before seeing Tennessee and returning to Georgia. The Vols hosted him for a spring visit in 2023 and he’s the high school teammate of three-star Tennessee running back commitment Justin Baker.
DL ETHAN UTLEY | NASHVILLE, TENN. (Ensworth School)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 180 overall prospect, No. 21 defensive lineman
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 121 overall prospect, No. 17 defensive lineman
Tennessee ultimately won out over Texas to land one of its top in-state targets. Utley committed to the Vols on March 28, choosing them over the Longhorns and a host of other schools – he had more than 40 offers – after racking up 35 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four forced fumbles during his junior season. Tennessee’s staff offered Utley all the way back in September 2021 during his freshman season and got him on campus several times, and Utley was back in Knoxville as a commitment to watch a spring practice last month.
SAF JORDAN YOUNG | MONROE, N.C. (Monroe HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 29 overall prospect, No. 2 safety
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 128 overall prospect, No. 12 safety
A cousin of former Tennessee star edge Byron Young, the 6-foot, 184-pound defensive backs released a top eight last month consisting of Clemson, Alabama, Florida State, North Carolina, NC State, Michigan and Texas A&M in addition to the Vols. Florida State and Clemson are his upcoming official visits. The Tigers have both 247Sports Crystal Ball picks for him.
OT NICK BROOKS | CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (John F. Kennedy HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 133 overall prospect, No. 15 offensive tackle
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 142 overall prospect, No. 15 offensive tackle
The former Iowa commitment visited Tennessee for a spring practice in April and has official visits lined up for Georgia, Southern California, Texas and Iowa.
WR TRAVIS SMITH JR. | ATLANTA (Westlake HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 143 overall prospect, No. 11 wide receiver
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 148 overall prospect, No. 15 wide receiver
Smith’s trip to Tennessee for a spring practice last month was his third to Knoxville in a span of less than six months, and he’s slated to be back for an official visit the weekend of June 21. Georgia has both 247Sports Crystal Ball picks for him, and he’ll take official visits to Athens then Auburn and Alabama before wrapping up his tour at Tennessee. Smith is planning to announce a commitment on July 13.
RB TODD ROBINSON | VALDOSTA, GA. (Valdosta HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 19 running back (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 155 overall prospect, No. 7 running back (four stars)
Tennessee offered the fast-rising running back early last month. He’s scheduled to take an official visit to check out the Vols the weekend of June 21 following stops at Georgia and Alabama. Robinson passed and rushed for more than 1,000 yards during his junior season and ran a 10.93-second 100 this spring.
DL JAYLEN WILLIAMS | PALATINE, ILL. (Palatine HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 144 overall prospect, No. 18 defensive lineman
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 153 overall prospect, No. 20 defensive lineman
Williams made the trip to Tennessee for the Orange & White Game and the Georgia game last year, and he’s slated to return for an official visit next month (the weekend of June 14). He has Purdue and Miami officials lined up as well. Michigan has both 247Sports Crystal Ball picks for him.
OT JUAN GASTON | ATLANTA (Westlake HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 153 overall prospect, No. 18 offensive tackle
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 165 overall prospect, No. 18 offensive tackle
Tennessee has hosted the mammoth 6-foot-7, 345-pound on multiple visits over the past 18 months, and Gaston most recently checked out a Vols’ spring practice back in April. The Vols could host him on an official visit next month, but he already has trips to Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas lined up for the coming weeks. The home-state Bulldogs have all four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for Gaston.
EDGE JAYDEN WOODS | SHAWNEE, KAN. (Mill Valley HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 154 overall prospect, No. 18 edge
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 167 overall prospect, No. 18 edge
Woods locked in an official visit to Tennessee for the weekend of June 21 after getting a visit from special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler earlier this month. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder made his first trip to check out the Vols for a spring practice in March. Tennessee will get his final official visit after stops at Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
DL CHRISTIAN GARRETT | BOGART, GA. (Prince Avenue Christian School)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 173 overall prospect, No. 20 defensive lineman
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 186 overall prospect, No. 23 defensive lineman
Garrett plans to announce a commitment on July 13. First, he’ll make several official visits: Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Tennessee, which is scheduled to host him on his final trip the weekend of June 21. The Vols hosted him for a spring practice earlier this year after getting him on campus for a camp and two home games in 2023.
LB TY JACKSON | LOXAHATCHEE, FLA. (Seminole Ridge HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 214 overall prospect, No. 24 linebacker
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 195 overall prospect, No. 20 linebacker
The Vols hosted Jackson, who had 135 tackles as a junior last fall (his third prep season of 100+ tackles), for a camp last summer and will get him back on campus for an official visit next month. The Vols will get his final stop the weekend of June 21. Jackson first will see Penn State, Florida State and Georgia
WR MARCUS HARRIS | SANTA ANA, CALIF. (Mater Dei HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 218 overall prospect, No. 23 wide receiver
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 226 overall prospect, No. 29 wide receiver
Harris has made the cross-country trip to see Tennessee three times this year, making his first visit in January and returning to watch a spring practice in April. He’ll be back for an official visit the weekend of June 7. Texas has the lone 247Sports Crystal Ball pick for him, and he’ll see the Longhorns at the end of an official tour including stops at Georgia, Alabama and Oregon in addition to Tennessee.
OL NIC MOORE | DANDRIDGE, TENN. (Jefferson County HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 238 overall prospect, No. 15 interior offensive lineman
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 228 overall prospect, No. 13 interior offensive lineman
One of Tennessee’s newest targets, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and the Vols extended an offer to the local lineman earlier this month having recruited him for months. The 6-foot-2.5, 290-pound Moore has official visits scheduled for West Virginia and Vanderbilt after seeing both schools earlier this year. He could schedule an official visit to Tennessee next month and might make it to campus as soon as the Vols’ “865 Live” event this weekend.
WR PHILLIP BELL | MISSION VIEJO, CALIF. (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 229 overall prospect, No. 26 wide receiver
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 233 overall prospect, No. 30 wide receiver
Bell has been to Tennessee twice in recent months, watching the Georgia game in November and returning for a spring practice in April. He’s slated to be back for an official visit starting on June 18. Bell’s upcoming travels include official visits to Washington, Penn State, Ohio State and Southern California as well.
TE JACK VAN DORSELAER | SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS (Southlake Carroll HS)
Previous 247Sports ranking: No. 200 overall player, No. 13 tight end (four stars)
Updated 247Sports ranking: No. 14 tight end (four stars)
Van Dorselaer, who slides outside of the Top247 in this update, committed to Tennessee in January, choosing the Vols over Southern California, Texas and others. His first visit to Tennessee in January 2023 netted an offer from the Vols, and he was back in Knoxville to watch the win against South Carolina last September. Van Dorselaer, the lone tight end commitment in the class so far, has been back on campus a couple of times this year coming off a junior season in which he caught 15 passes for 316 yards and six touchdowns while playing primarily as inline blocker and H-back.
