Tennessee football is making serious noise on the recruiting trail again-this time with one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2027 class. Four-star standout Antwoine Higgins has the Vols firmly in his sights, listing Tennessee among his top schools alongside Alabama, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Indiana. And if you’re reading between the lines, it’s clear the Vols, Hoosiers, and Aggies are the ones really in the thick of it.
Higgins is no sleeper. He’s ranked No. 191 nationally and checks in as the No. 10 linebacker in the 2027 cycle, per 247Sports.
From Cincinnati’s Anderson High School, he’s also the No. 3 overall player in Ohio-a state that’s long been fertile ground for defensive talent. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Higgins brings the kind of size and versatility that modern defenses crave.
He’s got the frame to play inside, but don’t be surprised if he ends up on the edge, where his athleticism and length could wreak havoc in the backfield.
The relationship between Higgins and Tennessee has been building steadily. The Vols first hosted him back in April 2023, and he picked up his offer from tight ends coach Alec Abeln in January 2024.
Since then, he’s been a regular on Rocky Top-visiting for game days in October, September, and November, as well as making spring and summer stops. That kind of consistency in visits usually signals strong mutual interest, and Tennessee’s staff has clearly prioritized him.
During one of his recent trips, Higgins snapped a photo with outside linebackers coach Levorn ‘Chop’ Harbin, a sign that the Vols are putting key position coaches front and center in his recruitment.
As it stands, Tennessee has four commitments in the 2027 class. The headliner is in-state offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo, a four-star prospect ranked No. 110 nationally.
He’s joined by three-stars Kadin Fife (DL), Kamauri Whitfield (CB), and JP Peace (LB). That group currently ranks as the No. 13 class in the nation, according to 247Sports-a solid foundation with room to grow, especially if they can land a talent like Higgins.
This momentum builds on what Josh Heupel and his staff just pulled off in the 2026 cycle. Tennessee signed the No. 5 class in the country, highlighted by three five-star recruits. Even after losing four-star athlete Legend Bey, the Vols’ class is loaded with dynamic playmakers who fit Heupel’s vision on both sides of the ball.
Landing Higgins would be another big win for a program that’s turning recruiting momentum into a consistent pipeline of top-tier talent. With his blend of size, speed, and positional flexibility, Higgins could be a future centerpiece of Tennessee’s defense-and the kind of player who helps define a class.