Class of 2025 quarterback Deuce Knight recently released his top schools, and Tennessee football made the cut. Vols head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear he wants a quarterback in every class, is Knight the guy in the 2025 class?
Tennessee has made a great impression on Knight thus far.
“Just the relationships I have with the staff,” Knight told Luke Winstel on what stands out from the Vols. “They offered me almost over a year ago, so they’ve just been staying in contact. I probably talk to them a couple times a week.
“And then what coach Heupel and (offensive coordinator Joey) Halzle do with their quarterbacks, the development, it’s really good. They showed me how they develop their guys. You can see it with Hendon (Hooker), Drew Lock, Joe Milton and all those guys. Just the offense, they probably had the top offense in the nation last year.”
Knight ranks as the No. 133 prospect by 247Sports composite, and the No. 7 quarterback in his class.
Tennessee extended the signal caller from George County (Miss.) High School an offer last June. He was on campus in the fall for a game and the spring to take in a practice.
“Coach Mitch (Militello) hit up my head coach about a year ago before I went up there to camp,” Knight said. “He was like ‘We’re going to start recruiting you more, we want you to come up here to camp.’ So, I just went up there to camp and I guess I did good at the camp. I was about to leave, I hadn’t talked to coach Halzle, and coach Mitch caught me walking out.”
After offensive analyst Mitch Militello caught Knight walking out, Halzle extended him a scholarship offer. Their relationship has taken off since then. Knight recently released his top schools, which included Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington and TCU as well as the Vols.
The 6-foot-4 and 185-pound quarterback brings a unique skillset to the next level.
“I’m going to compete really hard,” Knight said. “Come in, work really hard. I’m a smart kid, do everything you tell me to do. Then, on the field, it’s just a guy with a big arm that’s mobile and can just make plays, help other guys be better around him.”
Tennessee’s offense was on the national stage in 2022 with Hendon Hooker at the helm. Knight took notice, and that is part of the reason he holds the Vols in such high regards.
“I watched a lot of games,” Knight said. “I seen what Hendon Hooker did that year and it was good.”
Knight expects to be at Tennessee for a visit on June 2 before camping with the Vols. This visit will give his dad an opportunity to view the campus.
“Just let (Knight’s dad) see the place, and then I just want to get back up there around coach Heupel, coach Halzle and coach Mitch,” Knight said. “They’re all just really good people.”
Knight doesn’t have a timeline for when to expect a commitment. He is taking it slow, and will commit “when I feel it.”
“It might be tomorrow, it might be a couple months from now or it might be next year,” Knight said. “I really don’t know. Whenever I feel I’m ready to call a place home, I’ll commit.”
