THE SITUATION
Tennessee landed a commitment from the nation's No. 1 tight end, Hudson Wolfe, on Monday. The Vols came from behind to land the Savannah (Tenn.) Hardin County prospect, overtaking Ohio State in the final weeks while also edging out Alabama, Ole Miss and several others. Wolfe becomes the highest-ranked offensive player in the Tennessee class, which currently sits at No. 2 overall in the country.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR TENNESSEEÂ
This one is a big commitment for Tennessee both literally and figuratively. Not only do the Vols land the state's No. 1 player, but the also land an elite tight end that stands 6-foot-6 and is a matchup nightmare for smaller linebackers and defensive backs. Wolfe is also a willing blocker and most harp on that part of his game, but one look at his highlight film shows that he is also a major threat in the passing game.
Wolfe put up huge numbers as a junior, including several highlight-worthy catches. The combination of those two facets of his game make him a perfect fit for the Vols. Winning a head-to-head battle with Ohio State is also big for Tennessee as they continue to improve their in-state recruiting under coach Jeremy Pruitt.
WHY IT HURTS FOR OHIO STATE AND OTHERS
The Buckeyes were pretty sure that they had Wolfe in the fold for months and in late May confidence was at an all-time high. But after Tennessee made a strong push, things quickly went to 50-50 and Wolfe made up his mind and chose to stay in state. The Buckeyes have targeted several other top tight ends, but will have to go farther down their list after missing out on Wolfe.
Alabama was also once the leader for Wolfe and he nearly committed, but the two sides moved apart as the 2021 cycle moved along. The Tide don't have a tight end in their class and will also now have to look elsewhere. Ole Miss was also a dark horse in Wolfe's recruitment, but Lane Kiffin and his staff will have to show progress this season in Oxford to win these type of battles against the in-state school in the future.
