There are always going to be some flips on Signing Day, but it's still unexpected news that coaches don't want to see. On Wednesday morning, some disappointing news came in for Tennessee, as three-star defensive lineman Darrion Smith has had a change of heart.
Smith had been Knoxville-bound since late July, giving Josh Heupel and his staff a big-time recruiting win. However, breaking news just arrived, with Smith deciding to flip from UT to Auburn. This is exciting for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers, but an update that surely stings for the Vols. Fans can only hope this is the only commit Heupel will lose on the day.
BREAKING: Class of 2025 DL Darrion Smith has Flipped his Commitment from Tennessee to Auburn, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 4, 2024
The 6’3 265 DL from Baltimore, MD had been Committed to the Vols since July
“I’m home, WDE 🦅”https://t.co/OOQnhsYTi3 pic.twitter.com/pZmz2nHe2v
DL Darrion Smith has flipped from Tennessee to Auburn
Throughout his recruitment, Smith picked up more than 20 offers. His list included Tennessee, Auburn, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State and many others. It seemed like he was all set to make plays for UT, but Auburn never stopped actively recruiting him.
A Baltimore, Md. product, Smith choosing Auburn over Tennessee on signing day was a bit of a surprise, but at the end of the day, Heupel still has a loaded '25 class he's working with. However, plenty of attention remains on David Sanders Jr.
Ohio State is still working overtime to try and get him to change his mind, something Heupel doesn't want to see happen. Sanders is the No. 1 OT in the country and a 5-star playmaker. If Tennessee loses him too, it'd be a nightmare for the Vols.