It’s decision day for Tennessee Football target Braylen Russell, and he has kept the card close to vest thus far.
Arkansas seems to have the slight edge in the four-star running back’s recruitment, but the Vols are right there. He will announce his decision between Arkansas, South Carolina and Tennessee tonight at 7:30 PM ET on the 247Sports Recruiting Show.
Tennessee wants to take two running backs in its 2024 class. Four-star Peyton Lewis is already committed to Tennessee and running backs coach Jerry Mack wants Russell to compliment Lewis. Lewis brings top speed and an agile style of rushing. Russell, on the other hand, brings a more bruiser, downhill style of running.
“Me and Braylen really got to talk about how he feels about Tennessee and how he feels about his other schools that he’s considering, like Arkansas,” Lewis said in late June. “I’ve kind of just reassured him that Tennessee is kind of that hotspot where they have a lot of offensive momentum, so it’s definitely something you would want to be a part of. Overall the coaches and how they do things and how they actually put fun into it, it’s not all business. It’s unlike any other school.
“I made it clear to him that, um, I do not think in any way, shape or form that he’d be making the wrong decision by coming to Tennessee.”
Russell ranks as the No. 307 prospect nationally and the No. 25 running back in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite. He also ranks as the No. 4 running back from Arkansas.
Previously committed to Arkansas, the Razorbacks remained as one of Russell’s top schools throughout his recruitment. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports locked in a crystal ball projection for Russell to end up at Arkansas, but he removed it soon after.
The prospect out of Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas stands at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds.
Taking two running backs seems to be the norm for Josh Heupel and his staff. Last season, they took DeSean Bishop and Khalifa Keith, both three-star prospects. The 2022 class had Dylan Sampson and Justin Williams-Thomas. Even with a shorter timeline, the 2021 class picked up Jaylen Wright and Tiyon Evans.
The Vols’ class currently sits right outside the top 10 on most recruiting services.
The 2024 class for the Vols is currently comprised of four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger, four-star athlete Johnathan Echols, four-star cornerback Kaleb Beasley, four-star Peyton Lewis, four-star offensive lineman Max Anderson, four-star offensive lineman William Satterwhite four-star athlete Boo Carter, four-star defensive lineman Kellen Lindstrom, four-star linebacker Jordan Burns four-star athlete Marcus Goree Jr. and three-star defensive linemen Carson Gentle and Jeremais Heard along with three-star offensive linemen Gage Ginther and Jessee Perry and three-star safety Edress Farooq.
