Tennessee has a date circled on the recruiting calendar.
Four-star linebacker Skylar Alston is set to announce his college decision on Nov. 8, according to Rivals recruiting reporter Chad Simmons. The 2028 prospect has trimmed his list to six schools: North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and UCLA.
For the Volunteers, Alston remains a live target as they keep building out their future class. He’s described as fast, athletic, a strong tackler, and a playmaker, the kind of defender who can change the feel of a unit.
Alston plays at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. Tennessee first extended a scholarship offer in May 2025, and the Vols have stayed in the hunt by getting him on campus multiple times. One of those trips came in May 2026 for Tennessee’s Big Orange BBQ recruiting event in Knoxville.
That repeated contact has kept Tennessee in the conversation as the decision nears. The Vols are up against five other programs for the highly regarded linebacker, including three other Power Four schools in the SEC and two Big Ten teams. North Carolina and UCLA are also still in the mix.
If Tennessee lands Alston, he’d be a major early piece for the 2028 class and the first defensive commitment alongside quarterback pledge Kaden Craft. His sophomore season at Cardinal Gibbons in 2025 showed why so many programs are involved: 145 tackles, six sacks, 45 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
Now the wait is almost over. Tennessee will find out on Sunday whether Alston is headed to Knoxville or choosing one of the other finalists.
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