Tennessee
Looking back at Tennessee Football's summer recruiting run
Tennessee Football’s summer recruiting tear continued Sunday afternoon with the flip of four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon, who was previously committed to Alabama. It continued a massive weekend for the Vols, who added On3 five-star+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. on Saturday.
The two new additions put Tennessee at 15 commitments since the start of June, including five-star quarterback Fazion Brandon and four-star tight end Carson Sneed as the first two commitments in 2026, giving the Vols an elite start to the next class.
Of the 15 commitments, 12 are four-star prospects or higher in the On3 Industry Ranking, including two five stars. Harmon was the second flip, too, following four-star tight end DaSaahn Brame, a former Oregon commit who switch to Tennessee on July 28.
Here’s a look back at Tennessee’s summer recruiting run to date:
June
Jayden Loftin: The four-star edge rusher started Tennessee’s summer with a commitment on June 12. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Lofting, out of Somerville, N.J., is ranked No. 158 overall in the On3 ratings. He’s the No. 16 edger rusher in the class and the No. 5 player out of New Jersey.
Nic Moore: Tennessee kept the four-star in-state interior offensive lineman home with his commitment on June 20. Moore, the 6-2.5, 290-pound prospect out of Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tenn., is ranked No. 211 overall in the On3 ratings. He’s the No. 12 interior offensive lineman and No. 6 player in Tennessee.
Charles House: The 6-3, 300-pound defensive lineman out of Charlotte, N.C., committed on June 22. He’s a four-star prospect in the On3 ratings, ranked No. 284 overall. He’s the No. 26 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 9 player in North Carolina.
Douglas Utu: Before the David Sanders Jr. commitment on Saturday, Utu was the highest-ranked prospect in the class. The 6-4, 315-pound interior offensive lineman, who committed on June 24, is the No. 55 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 4 interior offensive lineman and the No. 2 player in Nevada, out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He’s a five-star prospect ranked No. 13 overall according to ESPN’s rankings.
Tre Poteat: The 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback committed to Tennessee on June 25 out of Verona, Wisconsin. He’s the No. 51 corner in the On3 Industry Rankings and the No. 4 prospect out of Wisconsin.
Mariyon Dye: The four-star edge rusher ended the month on a high note when he committed to Tennessee on June 28. The 6-4.75, 268-pounder out of Elkhart, Indiana, is ranked No. 36 overall in the On3 Ratings. He’s ranked No. 9 among edge rushers and No. 2 in the state of Indiana. He picked the Vols over Ohio State.
July
Travis Smith: The four-star receiver started the new month with a commitment on July 13. The 6-3, 200-pound Smith, out of Westlake High School in Atlanta is the No. 59 overall prospect in the On3 Ratings. He’s ranked No. 10 at wide receiver nationally and No. 8 in the state of Georgia.
Christian Gass: The 6-2.5, 220-pound four-star linebacker gave Tennessee a second straight commitment out of Georgia on July 20. Gass is the No. 85 overall player in the On3 Ratings, ranked No. 6 at linebacker and No. 14 in Georgia, out of Eastside High School in Covington.
Shaedy Hayward: The 6-1, 205-pound four-star safety out of Toombs County High School in Lyons, Georgia, was the first of back-to-back commitments when he announced on July 27. He’s the No. 75 overall player in the On3 Ratings, ranked No. 4 at safety and No. 11 in Georgia.
DaSaahn Brame: The former Oregon commitment flipped to Tennessee on July 28. The 6-4.5, 225-pound tight end, out of Derby High School in Derby, Kansas, is ranked No. 99 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 3 tight end in the country and the No. 3 player in the state of Kansas.
Darrion Smith: The 6-2, 260-pound defensive lineman gave Tennessee three commitments in a span of four days when he pulled the trigger on July 30. He’s ranked No. 59 among defensive linemen in the On3 Industry Ranking and is the No. 18 overall player in Maryland, out of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.
August
Faizon Brandon: The five-star quarterback started Tennessee’s 2026 class of commitments with a bang on August 3. The 6-3.5, 195-pound Brandon, out of Greensboro, N.C., is ranked No. 10 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of North Carolina.
Carson Sneed: Two days later, Tennessee added another huge name to its 2026 class, keeping four-star in-state tight end Carson Sneed home with a commitment on August 5. He’s ranked No. 9 among tight ends in the class and is the No. 4 player in the state of Tennessee, out of Nashville’s Donelson Christian Academy.
David Sanders Jr.: The 6-5.75, 276-pound Five-Star+ prospect out of Charlotte, N.C., announced his commitment at long last on Saturday, picking Tennessee over Ohio State, Georgia and Nebraska. Sanders is the No. 4 overall player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking and is the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina.
Jaedon Harmon: The four-star linebacker flipped his commitment from Alabama to Tennessee on Sunday. The 6-1, 205-pound Harmon, out of Rome High School in Rome, Georgia, is ranked No. 129 overall in the On3 Ratings. He’s the No. 13 linebacker in the country and the No. 20 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.
Tennessee
Tennessee releases availability update on star Nate Ament following injury
Tennessee star Nate Ament will miss a game against South Carolina on Tuesday, the program announced on Monday night. Ament was injured during a weekend contest against Alabama.
Ament was injured when he was rolled up on while going for a loose ball. His leg twisted awkwardly underneath him, and Ament immediately went to the locker room.
He would return briefly in the second half. Nate Ament even made a basket, but then he appeared to tweak his injury shortly after and returned to the bench. He did not re-enter the contest.
Tennessee issued a short statement on his availability against South Carolina. The program released the statement on Twitter.
“Nate Ament will not play tomorrow night at South Carolina,” Tennessee wrote. “Ament is out due to a right leg injury sustained Saturday against Alabama. The timetable for his return is to be determined and he will continue to be evaluated.”
A 6-foot-10, 207-pound freshman, Ament has been one of Tennessee’s best players all season. He is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points per game. He’s also the team’s leading rebounder, securing 6.4 rebounds per game.
Nate Ament signs NIL deal with Reebok
On3’s Nick Schultz recently published a list of some of the top brands to sign college basketball freshmen to NIL deals. Ament was one of the top signees.
In addition to Arkansas star Darius Acuff, Ament signed with Reebok this year. Ament was the crown jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class. He signed with the brand in October 2024 while he was the No. 4 overall player from the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Nate Ament sits second on the Tennessee roster with 17.4 points per game, and his 6.4 rebounds on average leads the Vols. Additionally, his $1.3 million On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 14 in college basketball and No. 56 in the On3 NIL 100.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this report.
Tennessee
Volunteers needed for community-wide cleanup day with Hands On Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Thursday, Hands On and NewsChannel 5 staff will come together for a community-wide cleanup day.
The event, sponsored by NewsChannel 5 will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 as we assist in winter storm cleanup.
If you’d like to help volunteer, you can sign up here.
Rhori, Carrie, Lelan and Brittany will all be helping assist residents removing and sorting debris.
Important details for those wishing to volunteer:
- This may require lifting and carrying objects that weigh 20+ pounds.
- Closed-toe shoes and long pants required. Heavy soles and steel toes preferred. Gloves and safety goggles will be provided, or you may bring your own.
- Current tetanus vaccination recommended. Chainsaws, utility crews, and heavy equipment will be active in the area.
- Volunteers under the age of 18 are prohibited from participating.
- Eat before you arrive and bring a water bottle, if needed.
Nashville’s Jefferson Street Sound Museum named stop on U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum is a great little gem in North Nashville. The founder and curator turned his home into a museum to keep the legacy of historic Jefferson street alive. Now, it’s been named a stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Aaron Cantrell takes us inside.
– Lelan Statom
Tennessee
Vanderbilt women’s basketball beats Lady Vols for second-ever win in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE ― Vanderbilt women’s basketball won at Tennessee for only the second time in program history, beating the Lady Vols 87-77 at Food City Center on March 1.
The Commodores (27-3, 13-3) are the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins March 4 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The regular-season finale featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime. Vanderbilt went on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, then went a 10-0 run in the fourth to put the game away.
The Commodores, who shot 53% from the field, were led by Mikayla Blakes, who finished with 34 points. Aubrey Galvan had 24 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Sacha Washington had 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
“The season has been really special, to be able to end it here at Tennessee with a win and secure I think the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament,” coach Shea Ralph said. “So the double bye, it feels really cool. I’m happy for the team, but we are literally just getting started.”
Tennessee (16-12, 8-8) outrebounded Vanderbilt 32-29. The Commodores shot 17-for-20 on layups and had 27 fast-break points. Tennessee was 10-for-24 on layups.
Vanderbilt’s SEC Tournament seed
The SEC Tournament will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt will start play on March 6 and holds a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will play the No. 7 or No. 10 seed at approximately 5 p.m. CT.
Mikayla Blakes stats
Blakes put up another 30-point performance, her third straight and eighth in her past nine games. She added six rebounds and four assists, but also had six turnovers.
She made six 3-pointers, which ties her season high.
“She had 34 but her biggest buckets were when we had to happen,” Ralph said. “Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to happen. That kid shows up every time.”
Third straight rivalry win
Vanderbilt now has three straight wins over the Lady Vols, beating them last season in Nashville and once in the SEC Tournament.
“I think Tennessee is a great team,” Ralph said. “They will be for as long as women’s basketball exists. Playing here in front of this crowd is tough. It’s tough. So I was really proud of our team for being able to figure it out the second half and win, especially here at Tennessee.”
The Commodores have their most SEC wins in program history.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
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