‘It feels like Tennessee’s got a ton of momentum there’ – The Vols are battling a college football heavyweight for a hometown player
The Tennessee Vols are battling a couple of college football heavyweights for a hometown recruit. 2027 four-star tight end Malik Howard, 6-foot-4/230 pounds from Oak Ridge, TN, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 8 tight end in the nation and the No. 8 player in the state of Tennessee. Notre Dame, Oregon, and Alabama […]
The Tennessee Vols are battling a couple of college football heavyweights for a hometown recruit.
2027 four-star tight end Malik Howard, 6-foot-4/230 pounds from Oak Ridge, TN, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 8 tight end in the nation and the No. 8 player in the state of Tennessee.
Notre Dame, Oregon, and Alabama are among the programs hoping to swipe Howard from the Volunteers.
Vols insider shares the latest on Malik Howard’s recruitment
Howard was at Tennessee this past weekend for an unofficial visit.
And it appears the Vols have some momentum in this recruiting battle following that visit.
“He’s obviously a massive target,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “He’s the number one tight end on their board, and has been for a long, long time. It feels like Tennessee’s got a ton of momentum there. He really likes (Vols tight end coach) Alec Abeln. I think the ability to stay at home and play for the Vols and make it easier for his family, all that stuff weighs (in Tennessee’s favor).
“Now, Notre Dame is not going away. I don’t think he’s going to visit Alabama this weekend. It felt like if he’s going to visit anywhere, he might visit Oregon. But I’m not sure he visits anywhere. We’ll see. He was still trying to decide all of that when he left campus on Saturday, but it certainly felt like Tennessee has the most momentum. He’ll be back for his official visit next weekend, and then he’s supposed to go to Notre Dame after that. Again, supposed to. How much can Tennessee get done over the next week or two to potentially close this one out? It feels like we’re headed in that direction, but he doesn’t have anything locked in for a decision (date) right now.”
Things can change quickly in recruiting — especially in the NIL era — but it sounds like things are trending in a positive direction for the Vols in the battle for Howard.