Jordan Ross, a highly sought-after five-star edge rusher, has committed to Tennessee. His commitment has provided a significant boost to Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class, propelling it to the top 10 and securing the 6th spot, according to 247Sports. This has allowed Tennessee to surpass Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU, Michigan, and Texas A&M in the rankings.
Ross chose Tennessee over Alabama, Florida, and Texas. He has visited Tennessee four times, including an official visit in late June. Ross is the highest-ranked player in Tennessee’s recruiting class and the second five-star recruit to join Josh Heupel’s staff in the last month, alongside WR Mike Matthews.
Ross, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, holds the distinction of being the first No. 1 prospect from the state of Alabama to commit to Tennessee in the 247Sports era. Previously, the highest-ranked recruit from Alabama to commit to Tennessee was Will Ignot, who was ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 114 overall in 2017.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna has described Ross as an explosive player with exceptional quickness and agility. Ross has exhibited the ability to bend the edge, play in space, and consistently win with speed and athleticism. He is projected as a 3-4 OLB at the next level and has the potential to become an all-conference prospect.
Aside from Ross, other notable recruits in Tennessee’s 2024 class include Mike Matthews, four-star OT Bennett Warren, four-star WR Braylon Staley, and four-star CB Kaleb Beasley. Ross is currently the No. 20 overall commit in the class.
Recruiting resurgence under Heupel
Tennessee has experienced a recruiting resurgence under coach Josh Heupel. The team’s recent success, coupled with strong recruiting classes, has laid a foundation for future success.
In 2023, Tennessee’s recruiting class finished as the 11th best in the nation. The class was highlighted by the addition of five-star QB Nico Iamaleava, who was ranked as the second-best quarterback in the class behind Arch Manning. Iamaleava is expected to serve as the backup to veteran Joe Milton III this season.
With the commitment of Jordan Ross, Heupel has now managed to secure three of Tennessee’s top 30 recruits in the 247Sports era, including two of the top 10. This level of success has not been seen at Tennessee since 2015 when the Vols managed to recruit three five-star prospects: Kahlil McKenzie, Kyle Phillips, and Preston Williams. Additionally, the team secured a commitment from five-star JUCC running back Alvin Kamara, who was the top-ranked prospect available that year.
