If the Tennessee football team and Josh Heupel were looking for a confidence boost ahead of the massive showdown with Florida, it just came in. Moments ago, monster news arrived for the Vols, with a 4-star defensive lineman letting everyone know he'll be Knoxville-bound.
5-star Tennessee commit silences flip rumors in key win for Josh Heupel
That'd be standout d-lineman Kadin Fife, who has officially committed to Tennessee. This has been in the works for a little while, as multiple predictions came in earlier this month for the 6-4, 290-pounder to choose the SEC side. Thankfully for Heupel and his staff, that's exactly how things have gone down:
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Kadin Fife has Committed to Tennessee, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’5 285 DL from Summerville, GA chose the Vols over Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Texas A&M⁰⁰“I’m home Rocky Top LLD”⁰⁰https://t.co/y6uuDkWKDT pic.twitter.com/4KhRYyQnFa
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 21, 2025
4-star DL Kadin Fife has committed to Tennessee over Auburn and others
As noted by recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett, the newest Tennessee pledge chose the Vols over Auburn, Georgia Tech and Texas A&M. In addition to those programs, the junior also landed scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina and many others.
This indeed is a big-time win out on the trail for Heupel and it's one that fans are excited about. According to the 247Sports Composite, Fire is ranked four stars, the No. 32 defensive lineman in the country, No. 33 player from Georgia and No. 282 prospect nationally for his class.
He's also not the first '27 pledge on board for the Vols. Fife joins legacy linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo and cornerback Kamauri Whitfield. Heupel has a loaded '26 group on the way too, with the Early Signing Period coming in December.
While the Vols have had a ton of success recruiting guys for '26, Tennessee hasn't forgotten about the '27 group and the program is off to a flying start there. Landing Fife over so many other programs is obviously great news for UT. Now, let's hope the good vibes can keep on rollin' with a strong road win against the Gators on Saturday.