Tennessee’s coaching staff knew they had something special in Hezekiah Harris - and they weren’t about to let him get away.
The edge rusher out of Jemison High School in Huntsville, Alabama, originally committed to Auburn back in July 2024, just before his junior year. But even with that pledge on the books, Tennessee kept the pressure on.
The Vols made Harris a top priority, hosting him on four different visits in just over five months. That persistence paid off when they flipped him from Auburn on September 1.
Now, with the ink dry from the Early Signing Period, Harris is officially a Tennessee Volunteer. The 6-foot-5.5, 235-pound four-star prospect signed more than a week ago, wrapping up a recruitment that had been trending orange for months. Ranked No. 165 overall and the No. 21 edge rusher in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite, Harris chose Tennessee over Auburn and Florida, announcing his final decision two games into his senior season.
And while the final stretch of his recruitment didn’t come with much drama, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel made it clear on Early Signing Day that landing Harris was a big win for the program.
“Super athletic, long, rangy. Can play in space, can rush the passer,” Heupel said, describing the kind of versatility that makes Harris such an intriguing prospect. “He’s just scratching the surface of what he’s going to be.”
A big part of Tennessee’s success in flipping Harris came down to consistency - and relationships. Outside linebackers coach Levorn “Chop” Harbin played a key role in keeping the Vols in the mix even after Harris committed elsewhere. Heupel credited Harbin for staying connected with Harris and his family throughout the process.
“‘Chop’ did a great job just continuing to be consistent with Hezekiah and his family,” Heupel said. “They were able to get up here multiple times, had a great official visit, but all of his experiences - we got him up in May for our May event. Just super excited to get Hezekiah here.”
Tennessee was one of the first schools to spot Harris’ potential, offering him a scholarship back in December 2022 after his freshman season. He made his first trip to Knoxville not long after, and the connection only grew from there.
After his junior year, the Vols ramped things up. Harris returned for Junior Day in January, came back in April for the Orange and White spring game, then again in May for the “865 Live” event.
His official visit came in late June, and by early September, Tennessee had flipped him.
The Vols are betting on long-term upside here - and there’s a lot to like. Harris is still developing physically, with a frame that can carry more weight, and he’s got a multi-sport background that includes basketball, which speaks to his overall athleticism. That’s the kind of profile that has Tennessee’s staff excited about what he could become once he’s fully immersed in a college strength program.
“He is just beginning his football journey,” Heupel said. “I say that in a positive way. When he gets in the weight room consistently and isn’t on the basketball court or running around in the spring, I think his body’s going to really take off.”
That sentiment is echoed by 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins, who sees Harris as a developmental player with serious upside. In his evaluation, Ivins described Harris as a “developmental defensive end with Power Four-starter upside” who will need time to build out his frame and refine his technique before he’s ready to contribute.
But Tennessee isn’t in a rush. They see a high-ceiling athlete with the tools to become a difference-maker off the edge. The Vols didn’t just win a recruiting battle - they invested in a future playmaker who’s only getting started.