Brandon “BJ” Allen Jr. walked into Neyland Stadium as a committed Mississippi State defender, but Tennessee still managed to leave an impression.
The 2027 Westlake (Ga.) defensive back was in Knoxville when the Volunteers hosted Texas, and it marked his first game visit to Neyland. After seeing it up close, he didn’t hide what stood out.
“It’s my first game visit. I never had experienced Neyland, but I mean, it’s a great experience. It’s the loudest game I’ve been to, so, great experience,” Allen Jr. said.
What Tennessee did on the field mattered too. Allen Jr. came away impressed with the way the Vols’ secondary handled business.
“The takeaway is they ain't let them get nothing. Defensive backs was just strapping all day. My boy Ty Redmond was doing good, Kayin Lee with the pick; two Georgia guys, so I always look at that,” Allen Jr. explained.
Allen Jr. committed to Mississippi State on Sept. 29, 2025, but Tennessee has kept pressing since then. He took an official visit to Knoxville over the summer, and the Vols have continued to stay involved.
“Tennessee stayed pushing, they push heavy. They are the only school pushing as heavy, so I respect that.
So, I come down here and show love to them, and they show love. Still in considerations.
It's hard to turn down Tennessee.”
That doesn’t mean a flip is imminent, and Allen Jr. isn’t locking himself into any quick decision. He said he plans to take his time and sort through everything with the bigger picture in mind.
“I’m just going to take it day-by-day, weigh my options to find the best option for me to go to the league.”
Allen Jr. said he’ll return to Mississippi State when the Bulldogs face Oklahoma, but Tennessee is also set to get him back on campus for the LSU game.
Coach Poindexter has been the main point man in Tennessee’s push, and Allen Jr. said the Vols made a strong early impression by making him feel wanted.
“As soon as I came down here, I felt like a priority and that was the biggest thing for me. Especially because I picked up the offer late. I ain;t really have contact with Coach Jones like I have everybody else, so that was a big thing,” Allen Jr. detailed.
With no final timetable in place, the next few visits figure to matter plenty for both Tennessee and Mississippi State.
In Other News...
Tennessee Texas Finish Just Got An Official Officiating Twist
The Southeastern Conference added an officiating wrinkle to Tennessees loss to Texas, saying the Volunteers drop-kick onside attempt was handled incorrectly. The league said the kick should have drawn a five-yard penalty and a replay of the down because it was taken from behind the required 35-yard line, a violation of free-kick rules.
Even so, the correction does not change the result of Texas 20-17 win over Tennessee. For the Volunteers, it leaves one more frustrating detail attached to a game already decided by a narrow margin, even if the official ruling stops short of altering the final scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Secondary Just Took Another Brutal Hit Before Auburn
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For a defense already managing other season-ending injuries in the back end, losing Lewis only tightens the margin for error. The Vols have had to keep adjusting their depth and rotations in the secondary, and now they head into the Auburn matchup with another important piece unavailable, leaving the coaching staff to sort out how to patch together a group that has been hit hard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Are Stuck On One Faizon Brandon Debate
Tennessees loss to Texas left plenty of fingerprints on the offense, but the loudest postgame debate has centered on Faizon Brandon and how much of the struggle was really on the quarterback. Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, yet the bigger number was the sacks, with Tennessees protection breaking down often enough to make the whole night feel hurried and uneven.
Film analyst Brooks Austin pushed back on the idea that Brandon alone was responsible, pointing to a shaky run game and the lines problems up front as part of the picture. Josh Heupel sounded similarly measured, saying Brandon may have been sped up and stressing that the answer has to come from more than one player. For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is that the debate is still open, and the film may only deepen it. [Read more 🡒]