Tennessee football had a big win on the recruiting trail last week with the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Charles House out of Charlotte, North Carolina. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman chose the Vols over SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia.
Josh Heupel and the Vols picked up another big commitment on Monday with the announcement of elite four-star interior offensive lineman Douglas Utu. The Las Vegas, Nevada player committed to the Vols over other national programs Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington.
Utu announced his commitment on Twitter/X, saying, “Proud to be announcing that I will be committing my craft and talents to the University of Tennessee! You can’t spell UTU without UT! Go Vols!”
Proud to be announcing that I will be committing my craft and talents to the University of Tennessee! You can’t spell UTU without UT! Go Vols!🍊🍊🍊@AneUtu @wilson_utu @BishopGormanFB @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/6ktZPawGZL
— Douglas Utu (@DouglasUtu56) June 24, 2024
On3 Sports ranks the 6-foot-4, 315-pound interior lineman out of Bishop Gorman High School as the No. 2 player in Nevada, the No. 3 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 53 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.
On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings, Charles Power, said Utu is “a standout on the offensive line at powerhouse Bishop Gorman for several seasons. Despite projecting inside long-term, Utu has primarily worked at tackle for Gorman. So he’s polished and experienced in pass protection.
“He’s also physically developed and is a prospect who comes into college with a higher floor, given the coaching and competitive football he’s played to this point. Utu is a solid athlete with versatility to play a few different spots on the line if needed.”
He is also the third offensive lineman to join what could be an elite offensive line class if they all stay together. Utu joins Antoni Ogumoro and Nic Moore in the 2025 class. Heupel has put an emphasis on bringing in top talent in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Utu’s commitment moves Tennessee to the No. 12 recruiting class in the nation with seven three-stars, six four-stars, and one five-star in the 2025 class. The Vols are currently ahead of Michigan, Penn State, and SEC teams Texas, Ole Miss, and Missouri.