Tennessee among top 8 schools for 4-star recruit, but recent news could hurt Vols' chances
2025 four-star linebacker Dante McClellan revealed his top eight schools on Tuesday and he included the Tennessee Vols, along with Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and West Virginia. McClellan, 6-foot-3/200 lbs from Canton, OH, is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 31 linebacker in the nation and the No. 11 player […]
2025 four-star linebacker Dante McClellan revealed his top eight schools on Tuesday and he included the Tennessee Vols, along with Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and West Virginia.
McClellan, 6-foot-3/200 lbs from Canton, OH, is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 31 linebacker in the nation and the No. 11 player in the state of Ohio.
The four-star recruit told On3 that part of the reason he's high on the Vols his his relationship with Tennessee linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary.
“They are a very strong contender and they are good," said McClellan. Coach (Brian Jean-Mary), he loves me. I’ve talked to Coach (Josh) Heupel over the phone. I loved the hospitality at the game. They were nice to me.”
Michigan has reportedly made Jean-Mary their top target to fill their vacant linebackers coach role in Ann Arbor. Jean-Mary previously coached at Michigan in 2020 and he has an existing relationship with new Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore.
If Jean-Mary heads north, it would obviously have an impact on Tennessee's pursuit of McClellan. We'll see where things go this week, but a coaching staff departure could put the Vols in a tough spot when it comes to McClellan's recruitment.
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