Tennessee has done most of the heavy lifting in its 2027 recruiting class, but the Vols are still looking to add a couple of big-time players.

One of those players is 2027 four-star athlete Tae Walden Jr, 6-foot-2/175 pounds from Collierville, TN.

Walden, who is rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee, has been committed to Oregon since July 1.

Earlier this week, 247Sports’ Tom Loy suggested that Walden is on “flip watch”.

“I would keep an eye on the number No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee and that is top 100 defensive back Tae Walden Jr,” said Loy. “He’s currently committed to Oregon, but my sources in Knoxville maintain that he’s on flip watch later in the fall, as we get closer to signing day in December. He’s at least somebody that they will continue pushing for in the coming months.”

Loy went further in depth on Walden’s recruitment on Thursday and noted that Oregon “feels very good” about keeping the four-star athlete.

However, Loy also wrote that he believes distance from home could eventually play a factor in Walden’s recruitment.

“I do believe that the distance from home could eventually play a factor, and if he eventually landed somewhere in SEC country, I genuinely wouldn’t be shocked,” wrote Loy. “… The other program to track closely is Tennessee, as the Volunteers have made it clear they will not stop recruiting him until pen hits paper.”

Ohio State, Miami, and Ole Miss are also in the mix, but Tennessee looms as the biggest threat to Oregon.