The Josh Heupel discount is in full swing. It’s the only explanation for Tennessee Football landing an elite wide receiver like Travis Smith Jr. out of Georgia for 2025. At the same time, this shows the level the Vols have reached on the recruiting trail when it comes to some positions.
Smith, a four-star across the board, hails from Westlake High School in Atlanta. The Fulton County, Ga., prospect is a consensus four-star and stands at just over 6’3′ while weighing 199 pounds. He announced his commitment to Tennessee Football on Instagram.
Although he is a perfect fit for the Vols’ offensive system, in an NIL age, it’s hard to see how UT could pull such a player. Smith hails from Georgia and could shine for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs, his hometown program. They are more prestigious, for starters.
Also, the Vols are actually deeper at wide receiver given players like Mike Matthews and Dont’e Thornton Jr., so Smith could get more touches at UGA despite the fact that it’s more prestigious. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers are even more offensive-oriented with less depth, so he could’ve gone to either spot.
Meanwhile, it’s not like Tennessee Football would have wasted NIL cash on another elite receiver given how deep they are. As a result, Smith had to commit to the Vols based solely on his interest in the program and Heupel specifically.
Taking all this into account, UT is clearly winning recruiting battles with the top programs legitimately when it comes to quarterback, wide receiver and edge rusher. Smith adds to that lure, and he’s a great building block for the Vols’ future with George MacIntyre.
A look at Smith’s highlight reel shows he has great hands and is great at accelerating. He has also been tested since he did this against the best high school competition in the nation. As a result, UT’s passing game will be in great shape with him in the future.
With this commitment, Tennessee Football now has 17 players inked for 2025. This is their first in just over two weeks. The Vols had been in the top 10 but are still just in the top 15 of the 247Sports Composite rankings after the pickup, so they still have more work to do, but they certainly got a great commitment here.
