Tennessee has stepped into the race for Ohio State five-star edge rusher DJ Jacobs, and this is not the kind of noise Buckeyes fans can shrug off.
Jacobs, the top player in the 2027 class, committed to Ohio State last December on live television after choosing the Buckeyes over Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia and a long list of other programs. For months after that, Miami was viewed as the main team with a real shot to pry him loose. That changed this week, when Tennessee emerged as a serious challenger.
The push was first reported on Tuesday, and Jacobs’ father, David Jacobs, didn’t exactly pour cold water on it.
"I have a good relationship with Coach (Rodney) Garner," the elder Jacobs said. "He's like a dad to me but that's all that's really going on with that."
Asked whether his son is still on track to sign with Ohio State in December, he gave the kind of answer that keeps the door cracked open. "As of today, yes, but you know how this stuff goes," he said.
National recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong said the Tennessee buzz is very real.
"I certainly don't think those rumors are coming out of thin air," Wiltfong said. "I think that Tennessee is a program that has entered the mix for David 'DJ' Jacobs going into his senior year and look like the biggest threat to Ohio State. The family is saying most of the right things about the Buckeyes; the one thing that they're not saying is that this recruitment is shut down."
The Vols have a built-in connection through Garner, Tennessee’s defensive line coach, who coached David Jacobs at Georgia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That’s not a manufactured relationship. It’s a real one, and it matters.
There’s also the Adidas angle. Jacobs, who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, signed with Adidas earlier this year. Tennessee switched from Nike to Adidas in July, and that same overlap was part of the Vols’ successful push for five-star running back David Gabriel Georges last week.
Then there’s the coordinator factor, which may be the most uncomfortable part of this for Ohio State. Tennessee hired Jim Knowles in December on a three-year deal that averages $2.2 million per year. Knowles built the defense that helped Ohio State win the national title in the 2024 season, and now he’s in Knoxville helping Tennessee sell Jacobs on the Buckeyes’ own blueprint.
Miami remains a major player in the broader flip market. Mario Cristobal has already pulled cornerback Donte Wright from Georgia, edge rusher Jaiden Bryant from LSU, cornerback Ai'King Hall from Oregon and receiver Eli Woodard from USC. The Hurricanes are third nationally and are operating at the top of the market, with quarterback Darian Mensah valued at $6.5 million, the highest figure in college sports.
Still, Miami already signed a five-star edge rusher in Bryant. Tennessee does not have that at the position, and that gap matters. Need is a currency too, and right now the Vols have plenty of it.
Ohio State is still fighting to hold onto Jacobs, and the money attached to the Buckeyes’ pitch is significant. Pete Nakos reported that "Sources have told On3 that Jacobs is set to sign a multi-year deal with Ohio State paying north of $1 million annually,".
That wasn’t enough to keep Tennessee from getting involved once already this cycle. Gabriel Georges chose the Vols over Ohio State on a deal worth roughly $2 million over three years, plus family travel.
Jacobs is expected to make multiple game day visits to Ohio State this fall. His younger brother Dawson, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class, will also be taking visits, and Wiltfong expects the family to be inside Neyland Stadium at some point this season.
In Other News...
Miami Faces Huge South Florida Recruiting Test For Elite Cornerback
AMir Sears rise has put South Florida recruiting back in the spotlight, and the elite cornerback now sits at the center of one of the most important battles on Miamis board. The five-star prospect reclassified from the 2028 class into 2027, instantly becoming the top uncommitted player in that cycle and one of the most coveted defensive backs in the country.
Miami has been pushing hard for Sears, with Michigan also in the mix as the decision nears. The next checkpoint comes July 31, when Sears is expected to make his choice, giving the Hurricanes a chance to land a major in-state prize and a test case for how well they can protect their backyard against national competition. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Is Being Framed As The Threat Miami Cannot Ignore
Marcus Freeman has turned Notre Dame into a program Miami has to keep an eye on, and the numbers around the Irish help explain why. Freeman is 43-12 in four seasons and already has a College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearance on his rsum, while the broader outlook for 2026 points to a roster with real staying power. Notre Dames recruiting profile remains strong, and the returning-production metrics suggest this is not a team rebuilding from scratch.
The part that should matter most to Miami is how complete the Irish look heading into next season. Notre Dame is projected to bring back 72% of its production and is getting key offensive continuity from CJ Carr after a debut season that included 24 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Add in the preseason buzz and the expectation that Freemans team should be thinking big again, and the Hurricanes are looking at an opponent that is built to stay in the national conversation. [Read more 🡒]