Tennessee’s hold on junior college commit Christian Mays is still intact, but the defensive lineman is headed to another SEC stop this weekend.
According to Chad Simmons, Mays is expected to visit Georgia for the Bulldogs’ game against Auburn. The trip comes after Georgia offered him on September 14, and he is now set to get a closer look at Athens.
Mays has continued to stand by his Tennessee commitment even as other programs, including Texas and Auburn, have pushed for him in recent weeks. The Northeast Mississippi Community College standout will be a junior when he reaches the FBS level next season.
His production this fall has been solid as well. Through seven games, Mays has recorded 15 total tackles and a forced fumble, according to the NMCC football website.
Tennessee’s recruiting class is currently ranked 24th nationally by Rivals, but the group still features plenty of notable talent. David Gabriel-Georges and Kesean Bowman sit among the headliners, and both remain committed to the Vols. Bowman recently drew attention after an On3 report said Ole Miss was making a push, but he answered by tweeting, “We Home.”
Quarterback commit Derrick Baker is also turning heads with a strong senior season at Milton in Georgia. Baker has the Eagles in position to chase a state title in one of the state’s toughest classifications.
On the defensive side, Tennessee legacy Kenneth Simon, who is also Bowman’s high school teammate, looks like a future linebacker for the Vols. Mays, Dylan Haley, Marcus Jones, and others are part of the group aiming to strengthen Coach Knowles’ defense down the line.
In Other News...
Tennessee's Alabama Quarterback Decision Suddenly Feels A Lot More Urgent
Tennessees buildup to Alabama has already taken on a sharper edge, and the quarterback question is right at the center of it. Faizon Brandon opened the season as the starter before George MacIntyre took over, and MacIntyre made a strong first impression in his initial start against Arkansas. With rivalry week approaching, the Vols are trying to sort out their most important position before a game that usually leaves very little margin for hesitation.
Josh Heupel still has not named a starter for Alabama, which only adds to the intrigue around how Tennessee will handle the moment. A film analyst has already weighed in and argued that MacIntyre should keep the job based on what he showed last week, and that view will only grow louder if the decision drags closer to kickoff. For Tennessee, this is no longer just about competition at quarterback, but about settling on the right answer before the stakes climb any higher. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Lost A Huge Piece Before Tennessee Showdown
Alabama heads into its meeting with Tennessee already dealing with a major absence on offense, as wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams has been listed as out for the game because of a lingering lower-body issue and a head injury he picked up against Georgia. The setback matters even more because Coleman-Williams has been the Tides most productive pass catcher this season, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
Kalen DeBoer said Coleman-Williams is working through a knee injury as well as the head issue, leaving his status beyond this week uncertain. For Tennessee, it changes the shape of a rivalry game that was already going to hinge on who can handle the pressure moments best, and now Alabama has to figure out how to replace a central part of its passing attack on short notice. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Push For Elite D-Line Target Just Got More Urgent
Tennessees run of big-game recruiting weekends is getting another layer of importance with Kellan Hall, the five-star defensive lineman from Christian Academy of Louisville, now sitting atop Rivals Industry Rankings for the 2028 class. Hall has already become one of the premier names in the cycle, and Tennessee has stayed squarely in the mix as one of the schools pushing hardest for him. He is scheduled to be back on campus for the Volunteers game against LSU on Nov. 21, giving the staff another chance to make its case in a setting built for prospects to feel the edge and energy around the program.
For Tennessee, the timing matters because Hall is not just another early offer in a deep recruiting board. He has made multiple visits to Knoxville and to other major programs, and the Volunteers are treating him like the kind of target who can help shape a class before it really takes form. With elite defensive line talent always at a premium, especially in a cycle that starts with a player of Halls stature, every trip carries added weight and every impression can matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]