Tennessee football has begun recovering from its max exodus in the wide receiver room. On Tuesday, Josh Heupel signed Alabama transfer receiver Amari Jefferson, adding much-needed depth to the skill position.
Jefferson officially announced his commitment to Tennessee on social media after much speculation that the Chattanooga native would return to the Volunteer State and join Tennessee.
— Amari Jefferson (@AmariJefferson6) January 7, 2025
This is a huge pickup for Tennessee, as Jefferson has four years of eligibility remaining. He initially committed to Nick Saban but decided to join the Volunteers after one year under Kalen Deboer officially.
Jefferson was originally recruited by Tony Vitello's baseball and Josh Heupel's football programs. With his commitment, Jefferson could become a two-sport athlete at Tennessee.
Due to a recent hip injury, he won't participate in the upcoming 2024 baseball season, but he's not ruling out the possibility of playing for Vitello's Vols in the future. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that he will wait to make a decision about his baseball future, according to information from his father.
The fact that he is also joining a new program and system likely rules out any immediate likelihood of him playing baseball. Heupel is known for sitting first-year players, specifically at receiver, to learn the system.
Jefferson was the No. 6 player in the country and the No. 2 outfielder, according to Perfect Game. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound two-sport athlete boasts an easy and explosive swing with power behind the bat and a physical and athletic build.
That type of power and build could benefit him in baseball and football as he begins his career on Rocky Top. The three-star receiver is the No. 50 receiver in this portal class, and he will have a chance to make an impact as a receiver next season with one year of experience under his belt.