Derrick Baker is starting to get the kind of attention that matches his season.
The Tennessee quarterback commit has spent the year putting up the numbers that make people take a second look, even if his recruiting ranking says three stars. Baker has guided Milton to a 9-1 regular-season record in Georgia high school football, throwing for 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He has also added 523 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground, giving him 38 total touchdowns and more than 2600 total yards.
That production is now pushing him into award conversation. With the regular season wrapped up in Georgia, Rivals’ Andy Villamarzo listed five players he believes could win the 2026 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year award, and Baker made the cut. He was included alongside Duke quarterback commit Aiden McPherson, Miami quarterback commit CJ Cypher, Stanford running back commit Marquis Fennell, and 2029 four-star quarterback Jordan Wiggins.
Baker still has work to do, but the postseason could give him a real shot at making a run at one of the biggest honors a high school player can win.
There’s also plenty of reason for Tennessee fans to keep an eye on the rest of the class coming down the stretch. With about a month left until National Signing Day, the class of 2027 is nearing the end of its high school careers before moving on to college, and Tennessee is set to land a strong group.
The Vols’ in-state class could end up being one of the program’s best. It includes five-star running back David Gabriel-Georges, who the source notes is originally from Canada, along with four-star receiver Kesean Bowman, four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon, four-star offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo, four-star tight end Malik Howard, three-star running back Asa Barnes, three-star defensive back Jaden Butler, three-star linebacker JP Peace, three-star defensive back Slim Leavell, and three-star receiver Dayon Cooper.
Those players stayed home for a reason, and the expectation is that many of them will become important pieces for Tennessee in the future.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Got A Mike Matthews Scare It Couldnt Afford
Tennessees offense took another hit Saturday when leading receiver Mike Matthews went down with a lower-body injury in the second quarter against Texas A&M and left the game on crutches. The sight alone was enough to raise alarms for a Volunteers team that has already spent much of the season navigating injuries and trying to keep its attack on schedule.
Matthews has been one of the most important pieces in Tennessees passing game, so any absence would carry real weight for an offense that needs him to stay on the field. For now, the only certainty is that the Vols are waiting on word about the extent of the injury, and that uncertainty hangs over a stretch where every healthy playmaker matters. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has A New CFP Ranking Fight Fans Wont Like
The latest College Football Playoff rankings gave Tennessee another reason to grumble, even after the Vols beat Alabama on the field. Alabama landed at No. 3 while Tennessee checked in at No. 8, a gap that immediately raised eyebrows because the head-to-head result would seem to favor the Vols in any fair comparison.
Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger strength of schedule as the explanation, but not everyone bought it. Former quarterback Chase Daniel said he was confused by the decision and disagreed with the committees logic, while both teams still have quality wins and losses that could keep reshaping the picture as the season plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Surprising Team To Root For Saturday
Saturday gives Tennessee a second scoreboard to watch, and it comes from an unlikely place. While the Vols handle Texas A&M earlier in the day, No. 21 LSU will be hosting No. 6 Texas in a matchup that could ripple through the SEC title race and the College Football Playoff picture, with Tennessee's path shaped as much by what happens in Baton Rouge as by its own result.
An LSU win would do more than just add another ranked victory to the conference ledger. It would strengthen the Tigers' standing as an opponent and help clear some of the clutter in the SEC standings, which is exactly the kind of help Tennessee could use as it tries to keep its own playoff hopes and conference math in order. [Read more 🡒]