Maxwell Hiller is the kind of offensive line prospect that gets entire coaching staffs on planes in January. And that’s exactly what happened. The five-star interior lineman out of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, has been one of the most heavily recruited players in the 2027 class - and now, he’s narrowed his list to four: Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and Ohio State.
This isn’t just your average top-four list. Hiller is the No. 4 overall recruit in the nation, according to 247Sports, and the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class.
At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, he’s already built like a future Sunday starter. His blend of power, agility, and technique has made him a must-see for coaches coast to coast - and now, the race for his commitment is down to four blue-blood programs.
Tennessee made a strong push in late January, when head coach Josh Heupel, offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee all made the trip to Pennsylvania to see Hiller in person. That kind of full-staff visit speaks volumes about how high Hiller is on the Vols' board.
And they’ll get another shot to impress him in mid-June, when he takes his official visit to Knoxville from June 12-14. That trip will come sandwiched between official visits to Alabama and Florida.
A visit to Ohio State is still in the works but expected.
While schools like Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina have also been in the mix - and sent coaches to visit Hiller in recent weeks - only the Vols, Crimson Tide, Gators, and Buckeyes made enough of an impression to stay in the hunt.
And it’s easy to see why those schools are all-in. Hiller isn’t just dominant - he’s versatile.
According to 247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks, Hiller is the type of lineman who could realistically flip to the defensive side of the ball and still project as a pro. That’s how athletic and technically sound he is.
Brooks described him as a “pancake machine” with sudden agility and elite point-of-attack power. Whether he ends up at guard, center, or even tackle at the next level, Hiller’s ceiling is sky-high.
He’s also been selected to play in the Polynesian Bowl - a showcase that consistently features some of the best high school talent in the country. It’s another nod to just how respected Hiller is among scouts and analysts.
As for Tennessee, they’ve already built a solid foundation in the 2027 class. Four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo is in the fold, along with four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star linebacker JP Peace, and three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield. It’s a strong start, but adding Hiller would be the kind of statement that shifts momentum in a major way.
Landing a top-tier offensive lineman like Hiller isn’t just about beefing up the trenches - it’s about setting the tone for the rest of the class. And with official visits coming up, the next few months will be pivotal in determining where one of the most coveted prospects in the country decides to call home.