Tennessee football is about to do to Oregon what the Vols already did to Ohio State
The Tennessee Vols sent Ohio State Buckeyes fans into a full-blown meltdown last week. Now, Oregon may be next.
Tennessee sent Ohio State fans into a full-blown meltdown last week when 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges picked the Vols over the Buckeyes.
Oregon could be the next Big Ten program that Tennessee sends into meltdown mode.
According to 247Sports’ Tom Loy, the Vols are a real threat to flip 2027 four-star cornerback Tae Walden Jr from the Ducks.
Walden, 6-foot-2/175 pounds from Collierville, TN, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee and the No. 55 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class. He committed to Oregon earlier this month.
“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.”
Walden, the son of former NFL linebacker Erik Walden, has been described by 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins as a “talented perimeter playmaker that has opinions split on where the ceiling is highest: wide receiver or defensive back. Checks box after box with his long frame, track speed, NFL bloodlines and monster three-phase production.”
Interestingly, Walden said earlier this spring that Tennessee sees him as someone who can play on both sides of the ball.
“Tennessee has been on me since my freshman year, and they haven’t let off at all,” said Walden to 247Sports. “They see me as a guy who can come in and play on both sides of the ball and make an impact early for them.”
We’ll see if the Vols are able to pull off the flip. Distance from home could certainly be a factor in Walden’s final decision.