Legend Bey Released from Tennessee Commitment After Signing Day Drama
In one of the more unusual signing day twists in recent memory, four-star athlete Legend Bey has officially been released from his scholarship agreement with Tennessee - just days after signing. The university confirmed that Bey requested the release on December 16, and Tennessee granted it, clearing the way for him to join another program and play immediately in the 2026 season.
All signs point to Ohio State as the likely destination.
Bey, a standout from Heartland, Texas, made his name as a dynamic high school quarterback, but most recruiting projections pegged him as a future wide receiver at the college level. He’s the kind of explosive athlete who can shift momentum in a single play - and that made his recruitment one of the more closely watched sagas of the cycle.
A Recruitment with Plenty of Twists
This wasn’t your typical flip. Bey initially committed to Tennessee, then pivoted toward Ohio State, only to reverse course and sign with the Vols on December 3. That sudden change raised eyebrows - and not just among fans and analysts.
Soon after the signing, reports began to surface suggesting that Bey’s decision to sign with Tennessee may have been influenced by family pressure, particularly from his mother. According to BuckNuts.com, Bey and his mother met privately before he made the last-minute switch from the Buckeyes to the Vols.
At the time of signing, Bey was just 17 years old, meaning he needed a parent’s signature to finalize his commitment. He turns 18 on December 24.
The situation took another turn when Bey’s social media accounts began to tell a different story. On December 4, a post briefly appeared on his X (formerly Twitter) account that read:
“Good Afternoon, I was just recently logged out of my IG (Instagram) and probably will be logged out of this Account as well by my older brother who has access to my account because, I won’t sign to the school him and my mother wants - Legend Bey”
The post was quickly deleted, but it added fuel to the speculation that Bey’s heart may not have been fully in his Tennessee commitment.
Then, on December 12 - more than a week after signing day - Bey posted photos of himself working out in Ohio State gear. The caption?
“Imma do my own thing.” That message seemed to confirm what many had suspected: Bey wanted to take back control of his recruitment.
NIL and Eligibility Considerations
While Bey was expected to land a significant NIL deal at Tennessee, NCAA rules prohibit schools from paying NIL money directly to athletes before they’re enrolled and on campus. So while he may have had deals lined up, no money had changed hands yet - a key detail that made his release relatively clean from a compliance standpoint.
Now that he’s been released, Bey is free to sign elsewhere and play right away in 2026. If he does land at Ohio State, it would mark a full-circle moment in what’s been a whirlwind few weeks.
What This Means for Tennessee’s 2026 Class
Losing a high-profile player like Bey is never ideal, especially when he was one of the headliners of Tennessee’s 2026 class. But the Vols still have plenty to be excited about.
The class remains strong, even with Bey’s departure. Tennessee signed 28 players overall, including five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon and five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. Fourteen four-star recruits round out a group that ranked No. 7 nationally in the 247Sports Composite - the program’s highest-rated class in more than a decade.
That ranking will take a slight hit once Bey’s exit is factored in, but the foundation is still rock solid. Tennessee’s staff has done a strong job building depth and securing elite talent across the board.
Final Thoughts
Recruiting is rarely a straight line, and Legend Bey’s story is a reminder of just how personal - and sometimes complicated - these decisions can be for young athletes. At 17, Bey found himself at the center of a high-stakes tug-of-war, navigating family expectations, personal goals, and the pressure of national attention.
Now, with his release official, he has the chance to reset and move forward on his own terms. Wherever he ends up, Bey brings the kind of talent that can make an immediate impact. And for Tennessee, while this chapter closes with a bit of drama, the future of their 2026 class still looks bright.