Tennessee’s quarterback future got a boost on Aug. 17 when Kaden Craft, a four-star prospect from North Carolina, announced his commitment to the Vols.
Craft became Tennessee’s first pledge in the 2028 class, choosing the Vols over Ole Miss, Michigan and Florida. He had already spent time around the program, visiting Knoxville last October for the Arkansas game and then coming back in April for spring practice.
“Even when I was at the game, just me and my dad were like, 'This is the place,'” Craft told GoVols247. “(I liked) the atmosphere.
It was really just being on campus, the college-town vibe. I love Knoxville.
It's only three hours away. And, really, just the plan they have for me, it all kind of made sense.”
Craft is listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and the 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 8 quarterback in the 2028 class and the No. 107 overall prospect. He’s also the No. 4 player in North Carolina. At Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, he’s shown plenty of production already.
As a sophomore in 2025, Craft passed for 1,739 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added another layer to his game on the ground, rushing 120 times for 387 yards and 13 scores. Beyond football, he also plays basketball and runs track, where his best marks are 11.36 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.96 in the 200 meters.
Tennessee’s quarterback room is already young heading into the 2026 season, with sophomore George MacIntyre and freshman Faizon Brandon in the mix for the starting job. Both would still have eligibility left when Craft arrives in 2028, and three-star Derrick Baker is already committed in the 2027 class.
“I mean, I think it's a perfect situation,” Craft told GoVols247. “That was a big thing for me - their plan - just because, Faizon or George, one of them's going to leave.
I mean, they're not going to stay. That's how the game works now. ...
I just sit behind a veteran, and then I'm competing for the spot next year. That's kind of how I look at it and we've talked about.”
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