Tayven Jackson
(QB)  Center Grove HS in Greenwood, IN        
6’4″    198
Committed: 4/28/21
4-star average (4-star on 247Sports, Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Jackson is the highest-profile player in the class, both because of his talent and position. Jackson will have a chance to learn in Year One and will compete for the starting quarterback job in 2023. Jackson should be a centerpiece to Tennessee’s future.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  Every class needs a quarterback and the Vols got theirs early in the process. Jackson has a good arm and displays great athleticism. He’s quick-twitch and has good vision own the field. Working with Josh Heupel & Joe Halzle, as well as watching Hendon Hooker go to work in 2022, will be instrumental for Jackson, who could be the front-runner in 2023. He’s one of the country’s top-rated prospects and has an extremely high upside. 

Player Profile:  A blue-chip quarterback and proven winner out of Indiana with tremendous leadership skills … Led Center Grove High School to back-to-back undefeated Class 6A state championships and 28 victories … A consensus four-star prospect and the owner of four school records … At his position, ranked No. 12 overall by 247Sports Composite, No. 7 by Rivals.com, No. 14 by On3.com and No. 16 by ESPN.com … Selected as a prestigious 2021 Elite 11 quarterback … Shattered the school record for career passing yards, completing 329-of-547 passes for 4,813 yards and 47 touchdowns … Fulfilled the difficult task of repeating as a state champion in 2021 while completing 124-of-187 passes for 1,842 yards and 21 touchdowns to only three interceptions as a senior … Tabbed as an IFCA all-state honoree … In the 2021 state championship game win vs. Westfield, finished 12-of-14 for 152 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score … On state title run as a junior in 2020, completed 113-of-182 passes for 1,756 yards with 17 touchdowns to go along with 46 carries for 191 yards and six scores … Three-sport standout who also participated in track and basketball … Helped guide Center Grove to a Class 4A sectional basketball title in the winter of 2021, averaging 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game … Committed to the Vols in April 2021 after receiving over 20 scholarship offers … Coached by Eric Moore … His older brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, plays basketball for Indiana … An honor roll student in the classroom … Twitter handle is @Tayvenjacksonn2 … Instagram handle is @tayven.jackson.

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Brian Grant
(OL)  Choctawhatchee HS in Fort Walton Beach, FL
6’8″    280
Committed: 5/17/21
3-star average (3-star on 247Sports, Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Grant is probably a project player but a good prospect with really good length at the tackle position. He’ll work to add weight in college and could develop into a solid starter or rotation player in the future. Grant’s athleticism should be a good fit in this offense.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  The definition or a ‘project player,’ Grant is new to football and is still learning the ropes. The potential is there, however, as he’s a skilled basketball player who has great feet. His size is attractive at 6-foot-8, 280 pounds, and will likely need a redshirt year to fill out his body and work on the fundamentals. Tennessee jumped on Grant early, holding off nearby Florida State for the commitment. Grant could be a steal in a couple of years. 

Player Profile:  Athletic, multi-sport standout from Fort Walton Beach in the Florida panhandle … Rated a consensus three-star recruit by all major recruiting services … The No. 108 player in the state of Florida according to 247Sports Composite … The No. 97 rated prospect in the state of Florida by On3.com and the No. 69 rated offensive tackle prospect nationally by ESPN.com … Named to the “Dandy Dozen” for the 2021 season by the Northwest Florida Daily News … Helped lead Choctawhatchee High School to an impressive turnaround as a senior as the Indians finished the year 6-4 after going winless in 2020 … Played on both sides of the ball for the Indians … Chose Tennessee over six other Division I offers … Also played basketball and threw shot put and discus for the track and field team … Committed to the Vols in May 2021 … Coached by Frank Beasley … Twitter handle is @BrianGrant50.

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Joshua Josephs
(DE)  North Cobb HS in Kennesaw, GA  
6’3″    215
Committed: 11/22/21
4-star average (4-star on 247Sports, 3-star on Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Josephs is one of the most important players in Tennessee’s class. The Vols need players who can help rush the passer; Josephs should help in that area. Let’s see how Tennessee’s coaches use him, but one thing seems sure: they want him to go get the quarterback.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  Picking the Vols over Kentucky and Michigan, Josephs is a true ‘LEO’ and can shine down the line when weight is added. He’s great off the edge with speed and physical while taking on blockers. Josephs is good outside of the box as well, hauling in several interceptions his junior campaign. Tennessee needs LEOs, so Josephs is a big-get. He just needs a couple of strong offseasons in the weight program. 

Player Profile:  Talented, lengthy edge rusher from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia … Rated a four-star prospect and a top-15 edge rusher in the country by both 247Sports and On3.com … The No. 71 overall prospect and No. 8 player from Georgia according to On3 … Tabbed No. 165 nationally and No. 15 among edge rushers by 247Sports … Listed by ESPN.com and Rivals as a three-star prospect … The No. 23 edge rusher in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite … Has a verified 82-inch wingspan … Led his high school to two consecutive Region 3 championships and was a team captain … As a senior, tallied 104 tackles and six sacks as the leader of a defense that allowed only 17.5 points per game … Racked up 98 tackles with seven tackles for loss and four sacks his junior season … Received all-state and all-county first team defensive honors in 2020 … Committed to the Vols in November 2021 … Chose Tennessee over 26 other Division I offers, including five other SEC programs … Coached by Shane Queen … Twitter handle is @joshuajosephs2 … Instagram handle is @k4lebe.

Elijah Herring
(LB)   Riverdale HS in Newnan, GA         
6’2″    225
Committed: 4/14/21
3-star average (3-star on 247Sports, Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Herring is a versatile athlete who should immediately add depth on defense. Let’s see how much weight Herring adds in college. He could play multiple roles at linebacker for the Vols.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  Josh Heupel’s first ‘true’ commit as Tennessee’s head coach has a chance to be a solid under-the-radar player down the line. He’ll need to work on his mechanics and taking on blockers at this level, but he’s got good size and that should only improve. He’s a smart player who can move well. Might get a look on the edge at some point, but will start off in the middle – a position of critical need for the Volunteers. 

Player Profile:  Physical and athletic in-state linebacker and disruptive pass rusher originally from Georgia who played his final two prep seasons at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee … Rated a consensus three-star recruit by all major recruiting services … The No. 21 player in the state of Tennessee according to 247Sports Composite … The No. 13 player in the state and the No. 46 rated linebacker in the nation by 247Sports.com … Tabbed the No. 10 player in the Tennessean’s 2021 “Dandy Dozen” … Named a first-team selection for the Tennessean’s 2020 All-Midstate Team … Racked up  67 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior in 2021 … Totaled 51 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a junior in 2020 … Helped lead Riverdale High School to a 10-2 record and the second round of the TSSAA Class 6A state playoffs in 2021 … Helped the Warriors reach the quarterfinals of the Class 6A state playoffs as a junior in 2020 … Also played some wide receiver in high school, totaling 21 receptions for 309 yards and a touchdown over the past two seasons … Chose Tennessee over 12 other Division I offers, including 10 from Power 5 programs … Committed to the Vols in April 2021 … Coached by Will Kriesky … Twitter handle is @ElijahHerring12 … Instagram handle is @elijaherring._.

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