Recently, recruiting news has been nothing but positive for Tennessee football and head man Josh Heupel. However, leave it to Brent Key and Georgia Tech to throw a wrench in things. Is that because the ACC side is about to flip a Vols verbal?
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That might end up being the case, as Georgia Tech has been making a strong push when it comes to 3-star linebacker Braylon Outlaw. The 'backer was previously committed to the Vols for almost a year, but he officially backed off his pledge on Wednesday. Also this week, Steve Wiltfong put in a prediction for the ACC side to land him. It seems like the writing is on the wall here, especially since Outlaw visited Georgia Tech last weekend:
@Madhousefit #WeBuiltDifferent @GrangerShook @graylin30 @coachjermelbell @ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong_ @DownSouthFb1 @HallTechSports1 @SouthernCharmSp @TomLoy247 @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/hlfO5U17H8
— Braylon Outlaw (@B__Law5) October 29, 2025
Georgia Tech is on the verge of stealing a LB commit away from Tennessee football
A 6-0, 220-pounder from Alabama, Outlaw first committed to Tennessee on Nov. 8, 2024, but the Yellow Jackets picked up their recruiting efforts this fall. With the success Key and Georgia Tech are having, it has opened the door for him to change his mind.
This is a bit of a bummer for the Vols, but it's not back-breaking by any means. The Vols still hold the No. 8 recruiting class in the country per 247Sports, with a pair of 4-star linebackers still on the commits list: TJ White and Brayden Rouse.
While you never want to lose a pledge for your class, Outlaw was one of the lowest-rated players on board for Heupel. He can either look to replace him via a different LB target high on his board, or save that spot on the roster for someone who ends up in the transfer portal.
Come this weekend, there are going to be a ton of visitors on campus as well, highlighted by 4-star running back Amari Latimer, who is currently a Wisconsin pledge. Plenty of 2027 targets, including 5-star running back David Gabriel Georges, will also be making the trip to Knoxville. So, yes, losing Outlaw stings, but it's not a sizable setback at all for Heupel and his staff.