Tennessee’s 2027 recruiting class already got a boost Friday with the addition of four-star offensive tackle Niko Kampas out of the NFL Academy in England. But the Vols still have two major decisions ahead of them, and both could swing the shape of the class in a big way.
The headliner is five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, the No. 2 back in the country. He’s choosing among Tennessee, Ohio State and Ole Miss, with a commitment set for July 22. A week later, three-star Asa Barnes will make his decision on July 29, with Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida State and USC in the mix.
Those two calls matter because Tennessee’s place in the 2027 recruiting rankings changes a lot depending on how they go. According to 247, the Vols could be looking at four very different outcomes.
If Tennessee lands neither Gabriel Georges nor Barnes, the class would sit at 204.49 points, good for No. 38 nationally and No. 14 in the SEC. That group would trail Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
If the Vols get Gabriel Georges but miss on Barnes, the picture improves sharply. Tennessee would jump to 220.13 points, moving up to No. 26 nationally and No. 10 in the SEC, behind Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia and Kentucky.
If Barnes ends up in orange while Gabriel Georges goes elsewhere, Tennessee would land at 209.44 points. That would put the Vols at No. 31 nationally and No. 12 in the SEC, trailing Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina.
And if Tennessee pulls both backs, the class would climb to 224.27 points, which would slot the Vols at No. 23 nationally and No. 10 in the SEC. In that scenario, Tennessee would still sit behind Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia and Kentucky.
In Other News...
Tennessee Is Making A Serious Push For A Massive In-State Running Back
The push for David Gabriel Georges has become one of the more important recruiting storylines for Tennessee heading into the summer, especially with the five-star back from Baylor School in Chattanooga staying close to home while drawing national attention. The 2027 prospect is one of the top players in the country, and his upcoming commitment has given the Vols a real chance to add a marquee in-state talent at a position that has long mattered in Knoxville.
Tennessee is leaning into that history as it works to keep Georges in the state, with DeSean Bishop helping make the case that the program has always valued elite running backs. Georges is still weighing Tennessee, Ohio State and Ole Miss with his decision set for July 22, and the fact that the Vols are in the mix this deep into the process is enough to keep this one firmly on the radar until the final call comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Lady Vols Offer First Look At Kim Caldwells Massive Reset
Summer workouts have offered the first real glimpse of Kim Caldwells latest rebuild in Knoxville, and it looks nothing like the group that finished last season. Tennessee is back on the floor with a roster pieced together through the portal and recruiting, giving Caldwell a fresh mix as she heads into her third year guiding the Lady Vols and tries to steady a program that has spent the offseason in full reset mode.
The changes have gone beyond the players, too, with Caldwells staff getting a new look as the program settles into a different era. Tennessee has also begun putting structure around the schedule, with several official game dates already on the books for the coming season, a reminder that the next step is moving from summer evaluation to something more concrete once the competition starts to count. [Read more 🡒]