Mississippi State still has Brandon Allen Jr. in the fold, but Tennessee has put itself squarely in the middle of this recruitment.
Allen, a three-star defensive back known as BJ, committed to the Bulldogs in September and became the first pledge in Mississippi State’s 2027 class. Since then, he’s had to fend off interest from Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and others trying to pull him away. Now Tennessee is making the strongest push of all.
The Atlanta native visited Rocky Top in June, and after a recent official visit, he came away impressed with what he saw in Knoxville.
“It was special. After that, it took my parents and all of my might to go on my last official visit (the visit after Tennessee), because as soon as I stepped into Neyland, it felt like home. It’s crazy to think about 102,000 people cheering you on every Saturday.”
Allen said Tennessee’s staff has made a real impression, especially new defensive backs coach Derek Jones.
“I talk to Coach Jones very frequently. We have conversations about life, about everything.
He wants me to come in and play early; that's the first thing he always tells me. He told me he can see being like Ty Redmond.”
That comparison matters to Allen. Redmond, like Allen, played high school football in Fulton County, Georgia, and came out of high school as a three-star. He still found a path to early playing time at Tennessee last season, and Allen sees plenty of similarities.
“He (Ty Redmond) is just like me, same area, same body type, same everything. I saw him ball his freshman year and improve his stock.
He’s only going to get better under coach Jones. It’s something I see all the time, and I’ve talked to Ty about it.”
Allen also said Tennessee’s pitch goes beyond the field. He pointed to the staff, the atmosphere and the resources around the program as reasons the Vols are hard to ignore.
“It’s hard to turn down Knoxville. The coaching staff is grade A; some played in the NFL.
The stuff around the building, the coaches, you know, the stuff you can’t put a price tag on. It will definitely help me get to the next level.”
Even with Tennessee surging, Allen remains committed to Mississippi State, and he made it clear why that bond still matters.
“Mississippi State was there when I had nobody. Back in 10th grade, I was a receiver, and Coach Bell (Mississippi State corners coach) told me that if I moved to corner, he would come and get me, and as soon as he switched to corner, he came and offered me.”
He also said Tennessee is now contacting him more than Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs still have a real shot because of the relationships he built in Starkville.
Allen described the situation as a two-team battle between Tennessee and Mississippi State, even though he has also taken official visits to Virginia Tech and South Carolina. He said he could make a decision by the start of his high school season, though the recruitment could also stretch into the season.
In Other News...
Tennessee Is Making A Serious Push For A Massive In-State Running Back
A major in-state recruiting battle is heating up around David Gabriel Georges, the five-star running back from Baylor School in Chattanooga who is set to make his college choice on July 22. Tennessee has stayed firmly in the mix for the No. 10 player nationally in the 2027 class, and the Vols are leaning on both geography and program history as they try to land one of the countrys premier backs.
DeSean Bishop has become part of that sales pitch, publicly pointing to Tennessees track record with elite running backs while helping make the case for the current room in Knoxville. Georges is weighing Tennessee against Ohio State and Ole Miss, and with the decision window closing, this one has the feel of a recruiting race that could come down to the wire. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees 2027 Class Is Facing A Massive In-State Recruiting Swing
Tennessees 2027 recruiting picture got a little more interesting with the addition of four-star offensive tackle Niko Kampas, a prospect who comes to Knoxville from the NFL Academy in England. Even with that commitment in hand, the bigger storyline for the Volunteers is still unfolding closer to home, where the staff is pressing for two in-state running backs whose decisions could shape how the class is viewed both nationally and inside the SEC.
Five-star David Gabriel Georges is set to announce July 22, while three-star Asa Barnes is scheduled to decide July 29, and Tennessee remains in the mix for both. The swing here is obvious: land one, land both, or miss out, and the Volunteers class could look very different depending on how those two calls go, with the rankings ripple extending well beyond Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]