Ziyare Addison was extended a scholarship offer from Tennessee Football in July. He was in Knoxville on Saturday to take his first look at the Vols.
The four-star offensive tackle now holds offers from 18 schools. During his trip, he got to catch up with some of Tennessee’s offensive staff, including offensive line coach Glen Elarbee.
“The environment was crazy,” Addison said. “When they scored that opening touchdown, it was for sure the loudest I game I’ve ever been to, even louder than Florida and The Swamp, which was crazy. I couldn’t hear anything. And even when Georgia was getting up and it seemed like they had to win all along the crowd was still a really good crowd. They cheered.”
Addison ranks as the No. 276 prospect overall in the 2025 class, and the No. 25 offensive tackle by 247Sports Composite. He is also the No. 38 prospect out of Florida.
Addison attends Sumner High School in Riverview, Florida. His school, like Tennessee, tends to run a high-tempo style of offense.
“I really like the high-tempo offense,” Addison said. “I really feel like it fits like the type of player I am. I’m very athletic, because my school runs a little bit of a high tempo as well with our system. So I feel like that really connects with me doing that high school. I feel like I could transition well into college in that system.”
Along with the offense, Addison looks for how his family feels at a school as well as his connection with the offensive line coach.
He didn’t get to talk to Elarbee much during his visit, due to the hectic nature of the game weekend. However, he hopes to return in the spring and continue building that relationship.
“I really look for a really good connection with the offensive line coach,” Addison said. “How I fit in the system, what plays fit me, the scheme and how they run their offense and how it best fits me. As well as if my family’s on board with the program. If my family’s high on the program, I’m trying to make sure me and my family’s on the same page with school.”
Tennessee has also leaned on the run game more this season compared to last. Addison doesn’t really see the type of offense swaying his decision.
“I can really do it all. I feel like I’m dominant in the run game,” Addison said. “I know I’m dominant in the run game and I’m dominant in the pass, so it really doesn’t really matter to me because how athletic I am and how I’m able to transition. So I pay attention to it, but it’s not really a problem for me if a team runs more compared to the pass.”
Addison watched a banged-up Tennessee Football offense line go against Georgia on Saturday. Even with the depth being tested, Addison took a lot away from their play.
“I love how they didn’t give up, they really kept fighting,” Addison said. “They kept fighting to the end, it was a lot of both of the tackles were banged up. I believe a guard was banged up as well. They kept fighting with the pieces they had.”
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Addison also listed UCLA, Penn State, Auburn, Oregon, Alabama and Oklahoma among his top schools, with “some other schools” as well. The impression that Tennessee Football made on him has vaulted the Vols into his list of top schools.
“I’d say,” Addison said, “they’ve got a really good spot in my recruitment right now.”
