Saturday’s matchup with Kentucky carries more than just football weight for Tennessee. With more than 100,000 fans expected to fill Neyland Stadium, Josh Heupel’s staff will also be trying to make a strong impression on a trio of 2027 recruits in the stands: cornerback commit Preston Glasco and two major targets, pass-rusher Hayden Lowe and defensive lineman Joshua Lane.
Lowe is the name Vols fans already know. The former 5-star Miami signee was on campus for Tennessee’s thrilling win over Auburn, and now he’s back for what could be a pivotal visit.
He’s at Long Beach City College now, and his November is packed with trips before he plans to make a final decision in early December. That gives Tennessee one more shot to leave a lasting mark before he heads to Austin, Westwood, and Tuscaloosa.
As things stand, Lowe appears to be weighing Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, and Alabama. After this weekend in Knoxville, he’s scheduled to visit each of the other three, with the Alabama trip lined up for the Iron Bowl.
That makes this one especially important for the Vols, who need the visit to feel like a major event - ideally capped by a win over the No. 8 Wildcats.
Lowe has made it clear that he wants a program that can help him reach his NFL goals, and Tennessee’s pitch will fall on Heupel, defensive line coach Rodney Garner, and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to sell him on that vision.
Elsewhere on the defensive front, Lane is drawing plenty of attention too. The Memphis standout has collected 24 offers this season, and Alabama is firmly in the picture after hosting him for an official visit in late October. At 6-3 and 265 pounds, Lane looks like a two-team battle on paper, but Tennessee is making him a priority because he’s an in-state target.
The concern for the Vols is obvious: they do not want to see a Memphis prospect head to Tuscaloosa. Still, Tennessee remains very much alive, and a strong weekend around the program could help make the choice tougher for the 2027 lineman.
For Tennessee, the main job is simple enough - beat Kentucky and keep the College Football Playoff hopes moving. But if the Vols can do that while also making Lowe and Lane feel like Knoxville is the place for them, the night gets even better. Tennessee enters the game as a 6.5-point favorite in Week 10.
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Tennessee Is Suddenly In Position For Its Next 5-Star Win
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Anderson is ranked 12th nationally by Rivals, which gives Tennessee a real chance to add another elite piece to its pipeline if it can finish the job. The Vols last landed a five-star recruit two years ago in Nate Ament, and he has since been drafted into the NBA, a reminder of how much value a top-tier prospect can bring to the program if this pursuit breaks Tennessees way. [Read more 🡒]