Tennessee’s new cornerbacks coach, Michael Hunter Jr., isn’t wasting any time making his presence felt on the recruiting trail. Just days into his new role, Hunter was already in Texas, checking in on four-star cornerback Montre Jackson-one of the Vols’ top targets in the 2027 class.
Hunter made the trip on January 20 to visit Jackson at his high school, a move that signaled Tennessee’s continued commitment to landing the talented defensive back. Fast forward to January 31, and Jackson dropped his top eight schools: Tennessee made the cut, joining Texas, Oklahoma, Duke, SMU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. Notably, some big-name programs like LSU, Penn State, Michigan, and Arkansas had also visited Jackson but didn’t make the final list.
Jackson’s stock is rising fast. He’s currently ranked No. 168 nationally in the 2027 class by 247Sports, sitting at No. 19 among cornerbacks and No. 23 overall in the talent-rich state of Texas. That’s the kind of profile that gets coaching staffs across the country on planes and into high school bleachers.
The Vols are in the mix, but the home-state Longhorns may be the team to beat here. Texas offered Jackson in January, a relatively recent development compared to Tennessee, which extended its offer back in April of last year. That offer came from the previous defensive regime-Tim Banks and Willie Martinez-but the new staff under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and Hunter Jr. has clearly picked up the baton without missing a step.
Jackson has an official visit locked in with Tennessee for June 19, giving the Vols a crucial opportunity to make their case in person. And while Texas has the home-field advantage in this race, Tennessee’s early involvement and persistent presence suggest they’re not going down without a fight.
As for the rest of the 2027 class, Tennessee already has four commitments in the fold: four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star linebacker JP Peace, and three-star corner Kamauri Whitfield. It’s a solid foundation, but there’s plenty of room-and time-for this group to grow.
That’s especially true given the momentum the Vols are carrying from their 2026 recruiting haul. Tennessee brought in 29 commitments in that class, with 27 signing during the early period and two more local prospects jumping on board recently.
Headlining that group? A trio of five-star talents in quarterback Faizon Brandon, wide receiver TK Keys, and offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda.
That class currently ranks fourth nationally, a sign that Tennessee is building something serious under Josh Heupel’s leadership.
Now, with Hunter Jr. hitting the ground running and another top-tier class beginning to take shape, Tennessee is positioning itself to stay in the national recruiting conversation-and potentially land another elite corner in Montre Jackson.