There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Texas A&M currently after reports surfaced Sunday morning that Jimbo Fisher had been fired. For the most part, this bodes well for Tennessee football.
While the Aggies and Vols don’t often battle for prospects, there are several names that could become flip candidates, or choose to enter the transfer portal. There’s also a 2024 prospect that both schools were battling over.
Let’s dive into some names to watch as Texas A&M changes the guard.
2024 ATH Kamron Mikell
Kamron Mikell is one of the Vols’ last remaining targets in this cycle. The four-star athlete released that he would choose from Colorado, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas A&M on Nov. 23.
With Fisher’s firing at Texas A&M, it is likely safe to assume that the competition got a little smaller for Mikell. Mikell ranks as the No. 101 prospect nationally by 247Sports Composite. He also ranks as the No. 6 athlete and No. 14 player out of Georgia. He attends Statesboro High School.
Mikell officially visited Tennessee at the end of September for the South Carolina weekend. Mikell is a standout player on both sides of the ball, but the Vols mainly want him on the offensive side.
2024 ATH Terry Bussey
A five-star and one of the top prospect in the 2024 class, Terry Bussey could be a flip target following the end of Fisher’s coaching tenure. He ranks as the No. 22 prospect nationally and the No. 2 athlete. He is from Timpson High School in Texas, and ranks as the No. 6 prospect from the state.
Bussey can play both receiver and defensive back, two positions Tennessee won’t turn down. He was extended a scholarship offer in March, and took a visit for the spring game in April. It is still unclear if Bussey wants to back-off his pledge, but mark Tennessee as a potential suitor if he does.
2024 WR Debron Gatling
Gatlin, a three-star receiver, held an offer from Tennessee before committing early to Texas A&M. He also attends Milton High School in Georgia, a school that Josh Heupel and his staff have several connections to.
If the Vols are pressed for another receiver as the 2024 cycle winds down, they may call on Gatling. He isn’t super highly ranked at No. 518 nationally, but he has shined against tough Georgia competition. He visited Tennessee in July 2022 before pledging to Texas A&M.
WR Raymond Cottrell
Cottrell was the first player to officially enter the transfer portal from Texas A&M’s current team. He is likely the first of many.
Cottrell has four years of eligibility remaining. He was from Milton High School in Florida, and ranked as a four-star wide receiver. Florida and Florida State were other big contenders in his recruitment, but he ultimately chose the Aggies.
Tennessee had extended Cottrell an offer before he committed to Texas A&M, so he could possibly now be a portal target.
DL Walter Nolen
A name very familiar to people in Knoxville, don’t be surprised if Walter Nolen jumps into the portal. The class of 2022 prospect has flirted with the portal before with cryptic social media posts.
Nolen spent his senior season at Powell High School in Knoxville and took an official visit to Tennessee. He also frequented Tennessee for unofficial visits before choosing Texas A&M.
Nolen was a five-star in high school and the No. 2 prospect nationally. After a disappointing freshman year, he had a solid sophomore season for the Aggies.
