The Tennessee Lady Vols added a major piece to their recruiting class on Tuesday night, landing Amaya Manuel just hours before the early signing period opened.
Manuel’s commitment came right after Tennessee beat New Haven, a game that some viewed as sloppy for Kim Caldwell’s team but still ended as a 43-point win. For the Lady Vols, though, the bigger headline was what happened off the court: one of their top targets chose Tennessee.
That makes Manuel a huge get for a program that had been working through the recruiting cycle without a commitment before finally picking up Maci Pringle, a guard from Flower Mound, who is expected to sign during the early period. Now the Lady Vols have added another guard with serious value, and Manuel joins a class that already looks like it could matter quickly.
Both Manuel and Pringle are ranked highly and are expected to be difference-makers once they arrive on campus. Tennessee also landed one of the top prospects in the last class, Gabby Minus, who was ranked lower than both Manuel and Pringle and has already emerged as one of the early standouts for the Lady Vols.
Manuel’s decision also fits the way Caldwell runs her roster. One of the clear benefits of playing for her is the chance to get on the floor early.
Caldwell regularly uses her full lineup, with only three or four players sitting out most games, and she is known for mass substitutions during contests. That approach keeps players fresh and opens the door for young talent to see the court quickly.
For Manuel, that means a real opportunity not just to play early, but to compete for starts as a freshman. And now that she has signed, that chance is that much closer.
In Other News...
Why Alabama Still Sits Ahead Of Tennessee Just Got Clear
The latest College Football Playoff rankings left Tennessee still chasing Alabama, even though both teams carry two losses. The Vols landed at No. 8 while the Crimson Tide stayed at No. 3, and committee chair Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger schedule and better collection of quality wins as the separator.
For Tennessee, the path forward is still right there on the schedule, but it is not an easy one. Matchups with Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt will give the Vols chances to strengthen their case, and in a crowded playoff race, every week now feels like an audition for a higher spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Landed A Top Commit With One Huge Catch
Tennessees 2027 baseball class already has a headline name in in-state catcher Blake Lundy, a highly rated prospect by Perfect Game who gives the Volunteers another important piece in the early stages of that group. He joins a run of top commits for Tennessee, adding to the programs recent momentum on the recruiting trail and reinforcing how quickly the Vols are stacking talent for the future.
Lundys commitment, though, comes with the familiar uncertainty that shadows elite baseball recruiting. He is still eligible for the upcoming MLB Draft, and his path could still turn toward professional baseball instead of Knoxville. For Tennessee, the good news is clear: if he chooses the college route, the Volunteers will be waiting as his landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets One Break But Another Loss Just Got Much Tougher
Tennessee got a small bit of relief in its first injury update of the week ahead of Texas A&M, with tight end DaSaahn Brame not appearing on the availability report after leaving the previous game. But the bigger news was far more damaging for a defense already stretched thin: sack leader Tyree Weathersby is out for the season after suffering a knee injury, a significant blow to a pass rush that has leaned on him for production.
Weathersby became the eighth Tennessee player to go down with a season-ending injury this year, underscoring how much attrition the Volunteers have had to absorb as the schedule tightens. The report also listed six other players who have now been sidelined for several straight games, leaving Tennessee to keep piecing together depth at multiple spots while trying to stay competitive in a crucial stretch. [Read more 🡒]