Tennessee has a secret weapon that’s keeping the door open with Ohio State 5-star commit DJ Jacobs
The Tennessee Volunteers are hoping to flip 2027 five-star EDGE DJ Jacobs from the Ohio State Buckeyes.
2027 five-star edge DJ Jacobs has been committed to Ohio State for eight months, but that isn’t stopping the Tennessee Vols from trying to flip him.
Tennessee is working hard to convince Jacobs that he should play for the Vols instead of the Buckeyes, and UT has a “secret weapon” that’s helping keep the door open.
That “secret weapon” is Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who coached Jacobs’ father at Georgia nearly three decades ago.
“With a guy like DJ Jacobs, Ohio State’s made a huge investment there in him,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price on Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “Tennessee’s got some really longstanding relationships there due to Rodney Garner coaching his father at Georgia many moons ago. So we’ll see where it goes.”
According to On3, Ohio State has offered Jacobs a multi-year deal worth more than $1 million annually.
“David Jacobs, has been locked in with Ohio State since committing in December,” reported On3’s Pete Nakos. “That has not stopped programs like Oregon and Tennessee from trying to flip him from the Buckeyes. Sources have told On3 that Jacobs is set to sign a multi-year deal with Ohio State paying north of $1 million annually.”
Tennessee is making a push to flip DJ Jacobs from Ohio State
Jacobs’ father told Rivals this week that Tennessee is trying to “make a push” while adding that it’s nothing “serious” right now.
“I have a good relationship with Coach Garner,” said Jacobs’ father. “He’s like a dad to me but that’s all that’s really going on with that.”
While Jacobs’ father seemed to downplay the Vols’ “push”, he also left the door open to a potential flip down the road.
“As of today yes, but you know how this stuff goes,” when asked if his son is still on track to sign with Ohio State.
Jacobs signed a deal with Adidas earlier this year, which is a potential advantage for Tennessee (Adidas reportedly helped the Vols land David Gabriel Georges over Ohio State, which is a Nike school).
Tennessee needs to get Jacobs on campus to have a real shot at pulling off the flip. We’ll see if they can make a visit happen this fall.