Tennessee may have just gained a major advantage in the chase for four-star wide receiver David Thomas.
Thomas, who already holds a Vols offer, is reportedly leaving Stillwater, Oklahoma, and moving to Knoxville, where he will play for Knoxville Catholic. The move gives Tennessee a much closer look at one of the top names on its class of 2028 board, and it comes as the buzz around Thomas keeps growing ahead of his junior season.
The 247 Composite ranks Thomas as a four-star prospect, the No. 289 player in the cycle, the No. 43 wide receiver and now the No. 14 player from Tennessee. He picked up his Tennessee offer on April 1, 2026.
That local connection matters. With Thomas in Knoxville, Josh Heupel and his staff will be able to see him in person far more often than other programs can.
It also makes it easier for Tennessee to bring him in for game day visits. Heupel’s background as both a player and coach at Oklahoma gives him another natural connection point with Thomas as the recruitment develops.
Thomas’ offer list already stretches well beyond Tennessee. Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Utah, Baylor and others have also extended offers.
On the field, Thomas is coming off a big sophomore season, according to MaxPreps. He finished with 880 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 49 catches across 12 games.
Tennessee still does not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but the Vols are working to build relationships early as they look to put together another strong group. In the 2027 cycle, Tennessee recently added a pair of running backs, five-star David Gabriel Georges and three-star Asa Barnes, pushing that class to 19 commitments and the No. 19 ranking nationally on Rivals.
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Former Vols Returning To Barnes Gym Says Everything About Tennessee Culture
Five former Tennessee basketball players were back in Knoxville for the Vols final summer practice session, giving the program a familiar jolt inside Barnes Gym. Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey, JaKobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara and Amaree Abram all took part in scrimmages against the current team, a return trip that brought together different eras of the roster while also giving the younger players a close look at what successful Tennessee basketball has looked like up close.
The setting mattered almost as much as the workout itself, especially with Gillespie, Okpara and Zeigler coming off NBA Summer League runs and still making time to be around the program. Terrence Hill Jr. and Dalton Knecht both pointed to the impact of those return visits, and it was another reminder of how tightly connected Rick Barnes group has stayed even after players move on, with the old guard still willing to show up and help set the tone for the next wave. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Could Turn One Massive Recruiting Flip Into Something Even Bigger
Tennessees pursuit of David DJ Jacobs has become one of the more intriguing recruiting storylines on its radar, and not just because the five-star EDGE rusher is already pledged to Ohio State. The Volunteers are viewed as a serious threat to flip him, and the appeal goes beyond a single elite defender, with Tennessee building a case around relationships, fit and the kind of long-term momentum that can change a class.
The bigger twist is that the Jacobs name may not stop with the 2027 cycle. Tennessee is also showing growing interest in Dawson Jacobs, DJs younger brother and a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class, which opens the door to a rare back-to-back family chase. Between the programs Adidas NIL partnership and the defensive line coachs previous relationship with the brothers father, Tennessee has some real connective tissue here, and if it can land one Jacobs, the chance to pair that with the other would make the whole effort look even more significant. [Read more 🡒]