Tennessee just landed a big one on the recruiting trail - and it’s a name Vols fans will want to remember. Four-star edge rusher Jordan Carter, a former Texas A&M commit, has officially pledged to Tennessee, choosing the Vols over offers from Texas, Georgia Tech, and Auburn.
This is a significant win for Tennessee’s defensive recruiting efforts, especially considering the level of competition they beat out. Carter, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defender out of Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Georgia, is one of the more versatile and physically mature edge rushers in this cycle. He’s the type of player who can make an early impact if the development track lines up.
Carter made his unofficial visit to Knoxville back on November 1 - the same day he decommitted from Texas A&M. That visit coincided with Tennessee’s home loss to Oklahoma, but despite the result on the field, the atmosphere and experience clearly resonated. That trip set the tone.
Two weeks later, he was back on campus for his official visit during Tennessee’s win over New Mexico State. It was one of several officials he took, including stops at Georgia Tech and Auburn, but in the end, Knoxville felt like home.
And Carter made that clear with a simple message: “Go Vols I’m home💯.”
Now, let’s talk about what Tennessee is getting in Carter. According to 247Sports’ rankings before the latest update, Carter was the No. 120 player nationally, the No. 15 edge rusher, and the No. 12 overall player in Georgia - a state that’s always loaded with high-level talent. While a recent rankings shuffle dropped him from the national top 247, he retained his four-star status, which speaks to his consistent value as a prospect.
The scouting report on Carter paints a picture of a physically advanced edge defender with a well-rounded skill set. He’s not just a pass rusher - though he can certainly get after the quarterback - but also someone who brings positional flexibility.
At 245 pounds, he’s shown the kind of lateral quickness and balance that allows him to potentially shift inside depending on the scheme. That versatility is gold in today’s college game, where hybrid fronts and multiple looks are the norm.
247Sports analyst Andrew Ivins compared Carter to Nebraska’s Cameron Lenhardt, a player known for his ability to disrupt plays from multiple spots on the line. That’s the kind of projection that should get Tennessee fans excited - especially with the Vols continuing to build a defense that can hold up against the SEC’s high-powered offenses.
With Carter’s commitment, Tennessee’s class - which already featured 26 signees - becomes even stronger. Every verbal commit has signed with the exception of Salesi Moa, who remains undecided and is still considering Michigan and Utah. But even without Moa, this group is impressive.
Before Carter’s announcement, Tennessee already held the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation per 247Sports. Adding a high-upside defender like Carter only strengthens that position and gives the Vols another potential difference-maker in the trenches.
It’s not just about stacking stars on paper - it’s about finding players who fit the system and can grow into impact roles. Carter checks a lot of those boxes. He’s physical, smart, and adaptable - and now, he’s headed to Rocky Top.