Tennessee and Josh Heupel have been hitting the 2027 recruiting trail hard. The Vols just made the top five for a top 25-ranked defensive back, and they are leading for another blue-chip edge rusher.
With that said, Tennessee is pushing hard for another 2027 edge rusher, according to Rivals' Chad Simmons. A recent post on X says the Vols are one of four different programs going hard after 4-star edge rusher Cam Pritchett.
Multiple programs are pushing to flip Oregon 2027 4-star EDGE commit Cam Pritchett, @ChadSimmons_ reports👀
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 22, 2025
Read: https://t.co/9e4eKAw7WE pic.twitter.com/3umcNRE0By
Why Cam Pritchett's recruitment is far from over
Tennessee has made it known in recent weeks that it is really emphasizing defensive line recruiting in the 2027 class. This isn't a massive surprise since you can never have enough good linemen, but it's clear Heupel sees the need for more edge rushers.
Pritchett is ranked a 4-star by Rivals and a top-200 recruit in the Rivals industry ranking. Pritchett is a big body who can set the edge and really disrupt the run game. It's no surprise that LSU, Auburn, and Florida State are all trying to push for him.
Pritchett has been committed to Oregon since June, but an early commitment doesn't mean much these days. Oregon just lost its defensive coordinator, Tosh Lupoi, to Cal. Given this, it only helps the other teams make a push for him. Pritchett will have to build a new relationship with the defensive coordinator hire, which gives the different schools more time to make a push.
It's worth noting that Tennessee lost Tim Banks, but defensive line coach Rodney Garner has built a solid relationship with the talented edge rusher. Plus, playing in the SEC at Neyland Stadium is always a big draw for recruits. The Vols have done a good job developing linemen, as Joshua Josephs will likely be a day two pick in the NFL Draft in a few months.
The next thing Tennessee needs to do is get him on campus. Ideally, he'd take an unofficial visit on his own dime and a summertime official visit, but beggars can't be choosers. If Tennessee can get Prichett on campus, it boosts their chance mightily.
As we turn the page into the new year the 2027 recruiting class will start to get more buzz. Josh Heupel and his staff will continue to build relationships in hopes of landing some more commits soon.