Tennessee football recruiting under Josh Heupel: 2025 news, rankings and Vols players to watch SEC insiders
The Tennessee Volunteers are heading into their fourth season under coach Josh Heupel, who signed a contract extension last year that will keep him in Knoxville through 2029. He led the Vols to an 8-4 regular season in 2023 and capped it off with a 35-0 win over Iowa in Citrus Bowl to earn the No. 21 spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Their momentum under Heupel has led to big news for Tennessee football recruiting since the season ended, as the Vols are in the mix for several high-profile recruits in the cla*s of 2025. Many of the country’s top prospects were on hand in Las Vegas for Nike’s event “The Next One’s” release earlier this month and the Tennessee Vols are recruiting several of those players.
Tennessee finished the No. 13 recruiting cla*s for 2024, according to the 247Sports rankings. The Vols are off to a strong start to the 2025 cycle, going No. 10 overall with one 5-star and one 4-star among their six commitments. If you want the latest Tennessee recruiting news, you should join GoVols247, the 247Sports affiliate covering the Tennessee Vols.
The GoVols247 team of Patrick Brown, Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan and Ben Mackey have decades of experience covering Vols. Callahan has a history of breaking big recruiting news, while Brown, Rucker and McKee are up to date on the team. Hundreds of thousands of Tennessee fans follow them on social media and millions read their coverage of Tennessee. They will keep you up to date on everything happening in Tennessee athletics and provide you with premium updates you won’t find anywhere else. It’s all available at your fingertips on any device here.
The team at GoVols247 has extensive coverage of Tennessee’s recruiting efforts, including information on two four-star players being recruited by Heupel’s staff. Head over to GoVols247 and join now to find out who they are and how they can change the face of Tennessee football.
Recruitment updates for Josh Heupel of Tennessee
One player from the 2025 cla*s that Heupel is targeting is four-star linebacker Dante McClellan. The Canton, Ohio, native announced his top eight college picks earlier this week, and Tennessee is one of the top SEC schools in the mix. McClellan visited Rocky Top for the first time in October after receiving a scholarship offer in August.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker received offers from more than 20 schools, including all eight that he said were considering him. He is the No. 31 linebacker in the 247Sports Composite’s 2025 rankings, and the No. 11 player in Ohio in his cla*s. McClellan plans to announce his commitment toward the end of the summer. Join GoVols247 for the latest information on McClellan hiring.
Another player Tennessee is interested in for 2025 is three-star defensive back Sidney Walton. Tennessee has already hosted Walton for several visits, starting with the Vols’ home opener against Austin Peay last season. He returned for games against Texas A&M in October and Georgia in November before attending Junior Day earlier this month.
Walton is the No. 61 safety in the cla*s of 2025 and the No. 35 junior from Alabama. He has received offers from at least 14 schools, including Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri. The Vols and Wildcats have recruited him for a longer period among SEC programs, but he also plans a junior day visit to another team within the conference. Join GoVols247 to read the latest VIP article regarding Walton’s travel plans.
How to get Tennessee 247Sports updates
The Vols are also seeking a four-star wide receiver for the 2025 cycle, which has narrowed their focus to two SEC schools. Join GoVols247 to find out who’s who and get the latest Tennessee football news.
Who are the top 2025 players the Tennessee coaching staff is targeting right now, and who is the four-star receiver who could change the game? Join GoVols247 for the latest Tennessee recruiting news, all from a team of reporters with decades of experience covering the Vols, and find out.