Tennessee has landed its first pledge in the 2028 class, and it comes at the game’s most important position.
Kaden Craft, a four-star quarterback from Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, North Carolina, committed to the Vols on Monday. Tennessee beat out a long list of finalists that included Michigan, Oregon, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss.
Craft checks in at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and 247Sports has him ranked as the No. 9 quarterback in the class and the No. 5 player in North Carolina.
The Vols got involved early. Tennessee extended a scholarship offer to Craft on Jan. 22, and he made three visits to Knoxville, with the latest coming May 31 for a camp. That repeated interest clearly mattered, especially with so many major programs in the mix.
North Carolina was first to offer Craft, doing so on Jan. 18, 2025. Since then, his offer sheet has filled out with interest from Virginia Tech, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina State, Auburn, South Carolina, Miami, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Appalachian State, UCLA and Nebraska.
Craft’s commitment gives Tennessee its first name in the 2028 recruiting class. The Vols already have a sizable group in 2027, where they hold 19 commitments: linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, quarterback Derrick Baker, athlete Jaden Butler, wide receiver KeSean Bowman, defensive back Carter Jamison and defensive back Brandon Leavell, tight end Malik Howard, defensive lineman Christian Mays, cornerback Dylan Haley, linebacker Kenneth Simon II, kicker Ford Fehling, long snapper Sam McKeown, offensive tackle Q’Mari Hudson, athlete Dayon Cooper, safety Marcus Jones, offensive tackle Niko Kampas, running back David Gabriel Georges and running back Asa Barnes.
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Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
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One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]