Within a week, Josh Heupel landed the biggest commitment for Tennessee Football since Eric Berry, he flipped a recruit from the Alabama Crimson Tide, and now he has added the biggest steal on the trail. In the process, he helped re-establish a crucial pipeline for the Vols going forward.
South Carolina defensive back Onis Konanbanny, a four-star on 247Sports Composite, committed to UT Friday afternoon. Standing at 6’1″ 180 pounds, Konanbanny hails from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., and chose the Vols over the Florida State Seminoles.
What makes Konanbanny a steal, though, is that his ratings are mixed. He is a three-star on 247Sports and On3 but a four-star on Rivals and ESPN. Here’s the catch, though: Konanbanny didn’t have any interest in football until he was in the eighth grade.
The Richland County prospect was born in France and also lived in London, England. He grew up playing soccer in both countries, and his parents are from Ivory Coast, according to KnoxNews. As a result, the need to develop has turned him into somewhat of a late bloomer.
This goes right to the heart of what has made Tennessee Football so successful in recent weeks on the trail. They have been evaluating talent early, and Konanbanny is part of that. It’s very possible that Konanbanny emerges into a full on four-star by next year’s Signing Day.
Beyond the early identification, though, Konanbanny also addresses multiple needs for the Vols. The first is obvious. Secondary has been a weak spot for UT since Josh Heupel took over, and identifying a potentially elite defensive back can only help that.
More importantly, though, following their pickup of David Sanders Jr., the Vols now have two prospects from the Carolinas within a week, one North Carolina and one South Carolina. Establishing a pipeline in these two states is huge, as it helped fuel Rocky Top’s 1998 national championship run.
With the Clemson Tigers, North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks all stale or declining, Heupel has a great chance to get into both regions and plant a firm flag. Remember, every starter on the 1998 Tennessee Football defensive line was from South Carolina.
As far as his abilities, Konanbanny’s highlight reel shows he doesn’t get beat, he closes in well, and he knows how to play the ball. His experience in soccer and track and field prove extremely valuable on this front, and they could make him a lockdown cornerback at the next level. It’s not like South Carolina lacks in speed.
With this pickup, Tennessee Football now has 24 commitments for 2025. That includes six defensive backs, which shows Heupel’s focus on where he wants to shore up his roster for the future. Vol fans should be beyond thrilled about the direction of the program now.
