A common theme over the last couple of weeks has been that in-state recruits have been loving the message Josh Heupel is sending them, no matter what class they are in. Heupel just secured Brentwood Academy’s Kesean Bowman, a top wide receiver in the 2027 class, and despite being in the thick of that cycle, he has already started building momentum with 2028 recruits.
Nation Farmer, an IMG Academy four-star and a top lineman in next year’s class, was at Tennessee for the Big Orange BBQ and had a great time. However, it sounds like he’s not the only one. Battleground Academy In-state four-star wide receiver Maximus Curry told 247Sports that he “loved everything” when talking about his visit to Knoxville.
In-state Top247 wide receiver "loved everything about" visit with Vols for 'Big Orange BBQ'https://t.co/F9AZbIFQVK
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) June 17, 2026
4-star WR Maximus Curry would be a big time get in 2028 for Tennessee
Seeing Heupel get a head start on some of the nation’s top 2028 players is a great sign and should pay dividends down the road on next year’s signing day. Sure, Heupel and the staff still have a lot of work left in the 2027 class, but building relationships with players like Curry right now is critical. You can’t wait until the last minute to start working on future classes, as recruiting is a 365-day practice.
Not to mention, Curry and Tennessee feels like a perfect fit. Curry has a much more compact build than most wide receivers at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, but he’s a yards-after-catch weapon who can make defenders miss in tight spaces. He has the natural agility and separation ability that make him a big-time playmaker. In an offense that thrives on explosive plays, like Heupel's, he’s an excellent fit. Curry doesn’t just live on screens and drag routes, as he can run a post or use double moves to go deep. He has a strong set of tools for Kelsey Pope to work with. This is an in-state target Tennessee does not want to see leave.
Tennessee has a lot to sell with its wide receiver production. Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are two of the best wideouts in the country on the roster right now. Chris Brazell II just got drafted in the third round, and Cedric Tillman, Joshua Palmer, Jauan Jennings, and others have already carved out NFL careers. Plus, with T.K. Keys and Kesean Bowman next in line, it’s not crazy to think there are multiple NFL guys in the room right now.
Landing Curry won’t be an easy task, though, as he has already drawn significant national attention in his recruitment. He was named a Polynesian Bowl player, an event featuring some of the top high school recruits in the country. 247Sports has him ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 134 player in the 2028 class. Alabama, Florida, Miami, Auburn, and others have also entered the mix for the Franklin, Tennessee product.
Obviously, this didn’t turn into a commitment right now, but getting ahead is never a bad thing in recruiting. Down the road, Heupel will undoubtedly see the fruits of his labor pay off with blue-chip recruits in 2028.
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