Tennessee’s win over Alabama on the “Third Saturday in October” did more than tighten the Vols’ grip on a 26-10 victory. It also gave the program a front-row chance to impress one of the top in-state names in the 2028 class.
Springfield (TN) four-star cornerback Jermaine Cobbins was in the building for the first time to take in the rivalry game, and the visit lined up with a Tennessee defensive performance that left a strong mark. The Vols led by two at halftime before pulling away, while the defense held Alabama to just 10 points after the Tide entered the game averaging more than 30 per contest.
Cobbins, who is the state’s top player in the 2028 cycle, was on campus as one of several visitors, but his attention was on the defensive side of the ball. Vols on SI spoke with Hunter DeNote, the Director of Scouting for National PlayMakers Academy, to get a read on the trip, and DeNote said the standout takeaway was Tennessee’s physical play and aggression across the secondary and the rest of the defense.
According to DeNote, Cobbins came away impressed not only with what he saw on the field, but with the overall setting around Neyland Stadium. He has already been around a few big Tennessee games, but this one carried a different feel, especially with fans and visitors celebrating on the field after the game. That kind of scene leaves a lasting impression on a young player.
The moment also fits a familiar Tennessee memory. In 2024, David Sanders Jr. and George MacIntyre climbed the wall to exit the visitor’s box as high school seniors after Alabama was beaten in Neyland Stadium. Now both are starting on offense and helping create the same kind of experience for the next wave of recruits.
For Tennessee, this visit mattered. Cobbins had been a recruit where communication had dipped at one point, but the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator changed the energy around the pursuit. Knowles also brought some familiar faces with him, and Anthony Poindexter stands out as one of the most important.
Poindexter already had a relationship with Cobbins from his time at Penn State, and that connection carried over when he arrived in Knoxville. DeNote said the relationship continues to grow, and added that Derek Jones is becoming more involved as the coach for Cobbins’ position.
“Cobbins and Poindexter have been acquainted since his (Poindexter) days at Penn State, so it was good for those two to connect. A big move was getting Coach Jones more involved as he coaches Jermaine's position, so knowing your coach and getting the feel for him is important.”
Cobbins, listed at 6-foot and 178 pounds, is expected to finish his junior season before his recruitment really ramps up. He has about 20 offers on the table, and family will be a major part of the next phase.
DeNote said Cobbins wants to make visits with his parents so they can get a feel for the schools together, though there is no firm timeline yet. Those family trips are expected to happen in the latter part of winter or early spring.
There is still plenty to sort out, including whether Cobbins will narrow things down before those visits or simply use the offseason to take in a larger group of options. For now, Cobbins or someone from National PlayMakers Academy will share updates when the process becomes more concrete.
As for what matters most to him, DeNote said the biggest factors are relationships and development. Cobbins, as DeNote described it, is a small-town player with faith, family, and football at the center of his world, so trust with coaches matters a great deal. Development matters too, especially with an eye toward the next level.
Tennessee’s secondary gave him plenty to notice there. The defensive backs played with the kind of edge Cobbins likes, and the unit kept showing up around the ball. Early in the game, Ty Redmond nearly turned a deflection into a pick-six after getting into the throwing lane and getting a hand on Russell’s pass.
Cobbins got a look at Tennessee’s new defensive identity at a good time, and the Vols may have strengthened their position in a recruitment that still has other stops ahead. He could still visit Alabama, and a trip to Gainesville, Florida is also being discussed.
In Other News...
Tennessee's Celebration Just Added Another Twist To This Alabama Rivalry
The postgame celebration in Knoxville came with a costly catch. After Tennessees win over Alabama, the Southeastern Conference fined the university $500,000 for violating its access to competition area policy, punishing the fan rush onto the field that followed one of the programs biggest victories in recent memory. The leagues policy is designed to keep spectators out of competition areas for safety, and it only allows exceptions when procedures are approved in advance and clearly communicated.
The money will go to Alabama, adding another layer to a rivalry that already had plenty of juice. Tennessee still has a path to have the fine reduced if it can show it tried to prevent the field storming or that there was only minimal interaction during the scene, but for now the SEC has made clear that the celebration crossed a line it wasnt willing to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Brutal Truth After Tennessee Exposed This Weakness
Alabamas trip to Tennessee ended with a 26-10 loss that put a familiar SEC test back in sharp focus: the line of scrimmage. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy pointed to the Tides struggles up front and the offensive turnovers as major reasons the game tilted, even as Alabamas defense did enough to keep things from getting away from them early.
Tennessee, meanwhile, leaned on its running game to control the contest and keep pressure on a Tide offense that never found much rhythm. The result dropped Alabama to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, with Texas A&M next on the schedule as the Tide try to answer a question that was exposed in a hurry in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Alabama Celebration Just Reignited A Debate Vols Fans Know Well
The celebration in Knoxville is already carrying a pricey reminder. Tennessee was fined $500,000 by the Southeastern Conference after fans stormed the field following the football game against Alabama, a scene that quickly turned a big win into a league issue. Under SEC policy, spectators are not supposed to enter the field except in specific circumstances, and the penalty is being passed along to Alabama.
There is still a possible path to a smaller bill if Tennessee can show it made efforts to keep fans off the field, but the visuals from Saturday make that a tough case to sell. Video showed a large number of fans spilling onto the turf, which is exactly the kind of moment the conference has tried to discourage as it keeps revisiting how to handle field-storming celebrations. [Read more 🡒]