Tennessee Vols land key commitment from in-state recruit over some big-name programs
The Tennessee Vols landed a big football recruit on Thursday afternoon, both literally and figuratively. Class of 2025 defensive lineman Ethan Utley from Nashville committed to the Vols over a host of marquee offers. The 6'3.5", 275-pound defensive lineman out of Ensworth School in Nashville picked the Vols over Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Syracuse. It […]
The Tennessee Vols landed a big football recruit on Thursday afternoon, both literally and figuratively.
Class of 2025 defensive lineman Ethan Utley from Nashville committed to the Vols over a host of marquee offers.
The 6'3.5", 275-pound defensive lineman out of Ensworth School in Nashville picked the Vols over Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Syracuse. It reportedly came down to Tennessee and Texas, but the relationship of Utley and his mother with Tennessee's defensive line coach Rodney Garner ultimately won out.
He also held offers from LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Georgia, Penn State, and Colorado. He ranks as the #4 player in the state of Tennessee for 2025, per On3 Sports' composite industry ranking and the #16 overall defensive lineman.
Getting better on both sides of the line of scrimmage is something that's been evident as far as what Tennessee needs to do to compete with the top-tier teams in the country, and Utley is the type of player who could fit that mold. He has the quickness and strength to play defensive end but could also bulk up and play more in the interior.
Utley is the Vols' seventh overall and third in-state commitment for the 2025 recruiting cycle, joining QB George MacIntyre and WR Joakim Dodson as commitments from the Volunteer state.
