New Tennessee Vols assistant coach is already making a big impact on the recruiting trail
On Saturday, 2025 four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford will announce his commitment. Alford, 6-foot-2/210 lbs from Vero Beach, FL, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 7 linebacker in the nation and the No. 53 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. The Tennessee Vols are one of the teams in the mix for Alford, though […]
On Saturday, 2025 four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford will announce his commitment.
Alford, 6-foot-2/210 lbs from Vero Beach, FL, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 7 linebacker in the nation and the No. 53 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.
The Tennessee Vols are one of the teams in the mix for Alford, though Ohio State is viewed as the likely landing spot for the four-star linebacker.
Tennessee is in the mix for Alford in large part because of new linebackers coach William Inge, who was hired earlier this offseason to replace Brian Jean-Mary (who left for a job at Michigan).
Alford told On3 ahead of his commitment announcement that if he commits to Tennessee it would be because of Inge and defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
“I feel like I’d be going to Tennessee because of Coach Inge and Coach Banks," said Alford. "Some real down to earth dudes. Coach Inge is a perfectionist, so I feel like that’s what I need as a player. He wants all the little things right so you can make the big plays and all of that.”
Jean-Mary's decision to leave Tennessee for Michigan was considered a big loss for the Vols' coaching staff. But it looks like Banks and Josh Heupel landed the best possible replacement in Inge.
Even if the Vols don't land a commitment from Alford on Saturday, it says a lot that Inge was able to make such a huge impact in this recruiting battle in such a short amount of time.
And by the way, this battle won't be over when Alford commits on Saturday. The Vols will still have a chance to land Alford before the early signing period in December regardless of where he commits in late March.
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