Tennessee got a closer look at one of its top defensive line targets over the weekend, and Dawson Jacobs came away talking about more than just the game.
The 2028 Blessed Trinity (GA) four-star defensive lineman was in Knoxville on Saturday for the Volunteers’ clash with Texas. He made the trip with his older brother, DJ Jacobs, a five-star plus EDGE and Tennessee priority flip target who is currently committed to Ohio State. Tennessee is still pressing hard there, but the visit also gave the Vols a chance to make an impression on Dawson on his own terms.
That part mattered.
“Learning that I am a priority for the coaches. They are focused on recruiting me, as an individual, so that was a big thing,” Jacobs said of what stood out during this visit.”
Just watching Coach Gardner's defensive linemen. Just seeing his coaching skills, and how it all translates to the field.
That really stood out to me.”
For Tennessee, that kind of message was the point. Programs often chase siblings as a pair, but in this case the Vols made sure Dawson felt like more than just the younger brother tagging along.
“He (Rodney Garner) cares about me. He will push me to be the best that I can be and not just on the football field, but as a person too.”
Jacobs said Tennessee has stayed in constant contact since the June contact period opened. “I hear from them mostly every day,” Jacobs said.
The Vols are clearly in the thick of this recruitment, with contact coming from just about everyone on the defensive staff. They are not alone, though. Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Miami, Notre Dame, SMU, and Auburn are also pushing hard for the Georgia prospect.
“A school wanting me, for me is probably the biggest thing,” Jacobs said of what matters most to him.
As for the possibility of eventually ending up at the same school as his brother, Jacobs didn’t shut it down, but he made it clear that won’t drive the decision.
“It would be a great school with my brother, but that's not my main focus, you know. My main focus is finding the best place for me and if it works out that of me going to the same college as him, then great.”
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Texas left Neyland Stadium with a hard-earned 20-17 win over Tennessee, but some of the attention afterward centered on behavior rather than the final score. Head coach Steve Sarkisian met separately with Colin Simmons and Raleek Brown to address celebrations that crossed the line, including the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Simmons drew after a touchdown. For a road win that already carried plenty of weight, it became clear the postgame conversation had to include discipline as much as execution.
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Tennessee Gets A Charged Auburn Test After One Ugly Wake-Up Call
Tennessee gets back on the road Saturday, Oct. 3, and the timing of Auburn could hardly be more instructive. Both teams are 3-1, and for Josh Heupels group, the trip comes with a quick chance to reset after the offense sputtered in the loss to Texas, a game that forced the head coach to talk openly about what needs cleaning up.
Champions Weekend adds another layer to the afternoon in Auburn, with Tennessee honoring past championship teams and individuals while the current roster tries to restore some momentum. The Vols do not have much margin for another clunker this early, and this matchup should say plenty about how quickly Heupels offense can respond to the wake-up call it just got. [Read more 🡒]