Early Signing Day has arrived, and Tennessee football is expected to sign 21 high school prospects in the 2024 class.
Currently, the class ranks No. 13 in the nation by 247Sports. The class has an average player rating of 91.11, the highest since at Tennessee since before 2010. It features six in-state prospects and four prospects from the state of Georgia.
As Early Signing Day unfolds, follow along with Off The Hook Sports.
News
Tennessee Football: Oregon State DB Jermod McCoy Commits to Vols
Tennessee Football: 2024 TE Cole Harrison commits to Vols
Signees
DL Carson Gentle (7:04 a.m. ET)
Three-star prospect Carson Gentle becomes the first 2024 prospect to sign his National Letter of Intent. Gentle hails from McCallie School in Chattanooga.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive lineman ranks as the No. 891 prospect overall and the No. 106 defensive lineman by the 247Sports Composite. He has been committed to the Vols since July 2022.
OT Max Anderson (7:11 a.m. ET)
Four-star offensive lineman Max Anderson as put pen to paper. The lineman ranks as the No. 271 prospect overall and the No. 17 interior offensive lineman by 247Sports Composite.
The 6-foot-5, 309-pounder out of Reedy High School in Texas is a big grab for the Vols. He chose Tennessee over Michigan, Alabama and Oklahoma.
RB Peyton Lewis (7:15 a.m. ET)
Speedy four-star running back Peyton Lewis has inked is NLI. He ranks as the No. 159 prospect nationally and the No. 14 running back in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
Lewis ran for 373 yards on 30 carries with four touchdowns in a Virginia state playoff game. He played at Salem High School, being utilized out of the backfield as a running back and in the passing game. With Jaylen Wright leaving and possibly Jabari Small, Lewis become an even bigger get in the 2024 cycle.
DL Jeremias Heard (7:20 a.m. ET)
One of Tennessee’s longest standing commitments, three-star Jeremias Heard has inked his NLI. Heard ranks as the No. 595 prospect overall and the No. 66 defensive lineman by 247Sports Composite.
At 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds, Heard’s size and length provide Rodney Garner and the Vols with an interesting piece to the offensive line. He recorded 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery as a senior. He is from Model 9-12 High School in Rome, Georgia.
LB Jordan Burns (7:30 a.m. ET)
Four-star linebacker Jordan Burns has officially signed with Tennessee. The linebacker ranks as the No. 395 prospect overall and the No. 33 linebacker by 247Sports Composite.
Burns, at 6-foot-1.5 and 220 pounds, comes to Tennessee from Pace Academy in Atlanta. He helped lead Pace to an 8-3 record in Georgia’s AAAA classification.
OL William Satterwhite (7:35 a.m. ET)
Four-star offensive lineman William Satterwhite has officially signed with Tennessee. The lineman ranked as the No. 218 prospect overall and the No. 10 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman is from Archbishop Hoban in Akron, Ohio. Satterwhite adds much-needed depth to the offensive line, and he could become an instant-impact player.
LS Marshall Box (7:41 a.m. ET)
Marshall Box, a long snapper from the University School of Jackson, has inked with the Vols.
LB Edwin Spillman (8:05 a.m. ET)
Edwin Spillman has officially signed with Tennessee. The four-star linebacker ranks as the No. 335 prospect overall and the No. 27 linebacker in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
Spillman, out of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, had 87 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, three sacks and three pass break ups in his senior season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound linebacker is the brother of current-Vol receiver Nate Spillman.
DL Kellen Lindstrom (8:09 a.m. ET)
Four-star defensive lineman Kellen Lindstrom makes the eighth Vol to ink his NLI. Lindstrom ranks as the No. 345 prospect overall and the No. 42 defensive lineman in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Lindstrom likely projects as an edge rusher unless he adds weight. A Glendale High School product in Springfield, Missouri, Lindstrom finished his junior year with 73 tackles and six tackles for loss.
CB Kaleb Beasley (8:14 a.m. ET)
Four-star cornerback Kaleb Beasley has signed with Tennessee. Beasley joins his fellow Lipscomb Academy teammate Edwin Spillman at Tennessee. Beasley ranks as the No. 154 prospect overall and the No. 16 cornerback in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
The 6-foot, 185-pound could also flex to safety for the Vols based on his play at Lipscomb Academy. A natural athlete, Beasley averaged 19 points on the basketball court and racked up 30 tackles and nine interceptions his junior year.
EDGE Jordan Ross (8:21 a.m. ET)
One of the highest ranked prospect in Tennessee’s 2024 class has signed with the Vols. Five-star Jordan Ross ranks as the No. 33 prospect overall and the No. 3 EDGE in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
Ross, out of Vestavia Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, mainly played as a standup linebacker in high school. The 6-foot-4.5 and 233-pound pass rusher will likely have to add size before seeing extended playing time.
OL Jesse Perry (8:26 a.m. ET)
Three-star Jesse Perry becomes the third offensive lineman to sign with Tennessee in the 2024 class. Perry ranks as the No. 775 prospect overall and the No. 56 offensive tackle in his class by 247Sports Composite.
Perry is an in-state prospect, coming from Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro. The 6-foot-5, 278-pound lineman possesses good speed and adds depth to a unit that was marred with injury in 2023.
OL Bennett Warren (8:30 a.m. ET)
Four-star Bennett Warren becomes the fourth offensive lineman to sign with Tennessee. Warren ranks as the No. 149 prospect overall and the No. 11 offensive tackle by 247Sports Composite.
The 6-foot-7.5 and 330-pound lineman possesses ready-to-play size at the college level. He also faces his fair share of good high school competition, hailing from Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugarland, Texas. Warren also threw in field events like discus and he played basketball.
Transfer TE Holden Staes (8:35 a.m. ET)
Transfer tight end Holden Staes, committing to Tennessee from Notre Dame, has signed with the Vols. He ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the portal by 247Sports and the No. 17 portal prospect overall.
Staes mainly plays a blocking tight end, which helps with what Tennessee needs. During his career at Notre Dame, Staes had 16 catches for 187 yards and four touchdowns. He helps fill the void left by Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles.
Transfer DB Jakobe Thomas (8:39 a.m. ET)
Transfer defensive back Jakobe Thomas, committing to Tennessee from MTSU, has signed with the Vols. He was formerly committed to Oregon State out of the portal before flipping to Tennessee.
Thomas finished with 71 tackles, which ranked second on the team for the Blue Raiders. He also picked up three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick whole starting 10 games this season. He totaled 108 tackles and four tackles for loss over the past two seasons at MTSU.
Tennessee needs help in the secondary, and Thomas can become an impact player for the Vols.
Transfer DB Jermod McCoy (8:45 a.m. ET)
After committing to Tennessee right before Early Signing Day kicked off, defensive back Jermod McCoy has signed with the Vols. In his freshman season, McCoy picked up 31 total tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2023. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
In the transfer portal, McCoy is a three-star prospect and ranks as the No. 8 cornerback. He also ranks as the No. 79 overall prospect in the portal. The 5-foot-11 and 170-pound defensive back was a wide receiver out of high school, hailing from Whitehouse High School Whitehouse, Texas.
DB Jackson Mathews (8:58 a.m. ET)
Jackson Matthews, a defensive back out of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, has signed with Tennessee. He is ranked as a three-star by 247Sports, but he does not have a composite ranking.
ATH Boo Carter (9:17 a.m. ET)
Boo Carter, the No. 2 prospect out of the state of Tennessee, has officially signed with the Vols and killing any flip rumors. Carter ranks as the No. 145 prospect overall and the No. 6 athlete by 247Sports Composite. Carter won Mr. Football for Tennessee Class 6A.
Carter played for several high schools, but he graduated from Bradley Central outside of Chattanooga. He also played basketball and ran track during his career.
Carter was one of the Vols’ biggest peer recruiters in the 2024 class, and he is arguably the biggest pick up.
QB Jake Merklinger (9:21 a.m. ET)
Tennessee’s quarterback for the 2024 class has officially signed with Tennessee. Four-star Jake Merklinger ranks as the No. 129 prospect overall and the No. 10 quarterback by 247Sports Composite rankings.
Merklinger, at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, could be classified as a gunslinger at the position. He brings an interesting dynamic to Tennessee’s quarterback room.
DB Marcus Goree Jr. (9:26 a.m. ET)
Also from Bradley Central High School outside of Chattanooga, Marcus Goree Jr. has signed his letter of intent to Tennessee. The three-star ranks as the No. 515 prospect overall and the No. 41 cornerback in his class by 247Sports Composite.
The 6-foot-1, 176-pound defensive back finished 2023 with 72 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
WR Braylon Staley (9:33 a.m. ET)
Four-star receiver Braylon Staley has officially signed with Tennessee. The receiver out of Strom Thurmond High School in South Carolina ranks as the No. 141 prospect overall and the No. 23 wide receiver.
The 6-foot and 180-pound reciever was clocked running a 11.12-second 100-meter dash and provides playmaking ability for Tennessee at the position.
WR Mike Matthews (9:42 a.m. ET)
One of the Vols’ top 2024 prospects, wide receiver Mike Matthews has signed with Tennessee. The five-star prospect ranks as the No. 20 overall prospect and the No. 5 reciever in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.
Out of Parkview High School in Georgia, Matthews highlights Tennessee’s 2024 class. He went for 751 yards on 39 passes with nine touchdowns this season. He was named Georgia Region 4-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year.
DB Edrees Farooq (9:46 a.m. ET)
Edrees Farooq, from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, has signed with Tennessee. Farooq ranks as the No. 567 prospect overall and the No. 58 safety in his class.
Farooq played several different roles for St. Frances Academy. He could step up into the box at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds to make an impact. He also was able to play in coverage at the safety position, or play man coverage on a slot receiver.
OL Gage Ginther (9:50 a.m. ET)
Gage Ginther, who passed up Colorado and Deion Sanders, has signed with Tennessee. He ranks as the No. 541 prospect overall and the No. 36 interior offensive lineman.
Out of Fossil Ridge High School in Colorado, Ginther stands at 6-foot-5.5 and 287 pounds. He is likely closer to 6-foot-7. Despite his size, the lineman still moves well.
JUCO DL Jamal Wallace (10:15 a.m. ET)
Jamal Wallace inked with the Vols, making his commitment official. Wallace has two seasons of eligibility remaining and makes the fourth projected defensive lineman in the 2024 class.
The 6-foot-2, 302-pound defensive lineman out of Sierra College in Rocklin, California, called Tennessee his dream school.
TE Cole Harrison (10:44 a.m. ET)
Cole Harrison committed to Tennessee late Tuesday night, and he signed on Wednesday morning. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end committed to Tennessee over Washington State, Houston and Pitt among others.
From San Mateo, California, Harrison is unranked by 247Sports Composite.
Transfer LB Eli Purcell (10:51 a.m ET)
Eli Purcell played with Wofford for three seasons after graduating from Farragutt High School. Now he is returning home.
Purcell racked up 67 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks this year for Wofford.
Tennessee’s full 2024 class
Five-star EDGE Jordan Ross
Five-star WR Mike Matthews (Enrolled)
Four-star WR Braylon Staley (Enrolled)
Four-star OT Bennett Warren
Four-star DB Boo Carter (Enrolled)
Four-star CB Kaleb Beasley
Four-star RB Peyton Lewis
Four-star QB Jake Merklinger (Enrolled)
Four-star OT Max Anderson (Enrolled)
Four-star LB Edwin Spillman
Four-star OL William Satterwhite (Enrolled)
Three-star DL Kellen Lindstrom
Three-star LB Jordan Burns
Three-star ATH Marcus Goree Jr. (Enrolled)
Three-star TE Cole Harrison
Three-star OT Jesse Perry (Enrolled)
Three-star DB Edrees Farooq (Enrolled)
Three-star DL Jeremias Heard
Three-star OL Gage Ginther (Enrolled)
Three-star DL Carson Gentle
Three-star JUCO DL Jamal Wallace
