Tennessee football is already making waves on the 2027 recruiting trail, and one name to keep an eye on is Aroson “AJ” Randle Jr. The four-star athlete out of Raleigh, North Carolina, is drawing serious interest from top-tier programs, and the Vols are firmly in the mix.
Randle, who suits up for Garner High School, has been turning heads with his versatility and athleticism. He’s listed as a linebacker by 247Sports, where he’s ranked the No. 24 player at the position and No. 327 overall in the 2027 class.
But don’t box him into just one role-Randle’s skill set allows him to move around the field, and that kind of flexibility is exactly what modern defenses crave. Tennessee’s offer came from scouting analyst Donovan Lahmann, and while the Vols haven’t tipped their hand on how they’d deploy him, it’s clear they see something special.
Right now, Randle has Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio State near the top of his list, according to Rivals. That’s elite company, and it speaks to the level of talent we’re talking about here.
His offer sheet is already stacked, including programs like Miami, Penn State, Florida State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Nebraska, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Michigan State, among others. This is a national recruitment, and Tennessee is right in the thick of it.
The Vols have a strong track record in the Raleigh area, a pipeline that dates back to the days of Phillip Fulmer and Johnny Majors, and one that Josh Heupel’s staff has continued to tap into. That history, combined with Tennessee’s current trajectory, makes Knoxville an appealing destination for a player like Randle.
He’s already made a visit to Rocky Top, attending the Vols’ home game against Oklahoma this past season. While the result on the field didn’t go Tennessee’s way, the atmosphere clearly left its mark.
Recruits often talk about the energy inside Neyland Stadium, and Randle’s trip was no exception. Even in a loss, Tennessee managed to make a lasting impression.
As for the 2027 class as a whole, the Vols are off to a solid start. They’ve secured four early commitments, headlined by in-state offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo.
Uwaifo checks in as the No. 110 player in the country and holds a four-star rating. He’s the kind of cornerstone piece you want anchoring a class this early in the cycle.
Joining him are three-star prospects Kadin Fife (defensive line), Kamauri Whitfield (cornerback), and JP Peace (linebacker). It’s a group that currently ranks No. 13 nationally, according to 247Sports, and with names like Randle still on the board, there’s plenty of room for this class to climb.
Bottom line: Tennessee is building something, and recruits are noticing. AJ Randle Jr. is the kind of athlete who can elevate a class-and a defense-and the Vols are doing everything they can to stay in the hunt. This recruitment is far from over, but Tennessee’s early positioning puts them in a strong spot as the 2027 cycle begins to heat up.