Tennessee’s win against Alabama was, obviously, huge for the Vols who are right back in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. The victory is proving to have even bigger impacts than just playing for a national championship this season.
Tennessee picked up its second commitment since the Vols upset the Crimson Tide on Saturday with a thrilling 24-17 comeback victory that, once again, was one of the best scenes in all of college football. Prospects, along with fans, ran onto the field after the game.
Some decided they wanted to be a part of the madness when they became college football players. Alabama defensive lineman Tyson Bacon committed to the Vols on Monday, becoming Tennessee’s second commitment since the Vols bested the Crimson Tide. The Vols now have four commitments for the 2026 class.
The Vols’ 2026 recruiting class now ranks No. 7 in the nation and third best in the SEC, surprisingly, behind Auburn and South Carolina, which both could be ripe for the picking if they don’t start winning more games to keep their coaches in place. That, however, is a story for another day. The news at hand is that the Vols have come up big on the recruiting trail thanks to their second half performance against Alabama that moved Tennessee to 6-1 and 3-1 in the SEC.
Bacon is a 6-foot-3, 248-pound defensive lineman from Hoover (Ala.) High School. It’s worth noting that he’s from the same state in which the Crimson Tide hail from. With first-year Bama coach Kalen DeBoer coming under strong scrutiny after losses to Vanderbilt and, now, Tennessee, the Yellowhammer State could be prime territory for the Vols. There is no longer Nick Saban to close the state’s borders to opposing recruiters.
Bacon’s list of scholarship offers isn’t overly impressive. Florida had reportedly extended an official invite. However, more schools were likely on the way. Tennessee, as it has repeatedly done, has landed commitments by offering early scholarships. That worked in Bacon’s case, who also cited the Vols’ family atmosphere and aggressive defensive approach as reasons why he chose the Vols.
Tennessee was once thought of as appealing for quarterbacks and skill position players because of the Vols’ explosive, high-tempo offense. Now that the Vols have a elite defense in place, there is plenty of reason for defensive players to want to join the party.
Bacon is the second Tennessee commitment this week. Four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga., also committed to the Vols following the win over Alabama.
The victory over the Crimson Tide may prove to be quite timely. Tennessee has an off week before the Vols host Kentucky on Nov. 2, which means Tennessee’s coaches can focus a bit more on recruiting than before. The Kentucky game will be held at night, which means the Vols’ electric atmosphere could lead to more commitments.
Clearly, Neyland Stadium is proving to be an incredible advantage when it comes to creating a hostile environment that can swallow up opposing teams. However, its impact on recruiting is arguably more significant than even its disruptive impact on the Crimson Tide.
