SEC Powerhouse Lands Multiple 4-Star Commits Minutes Apart
Led by head coach Josh Heupel, the Tennessee Volunteers have had a successful offseason, which is apparent by them already landing some of the top talent in the 2026 recruiting class.
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That trend continued on Tuesday, as On3's Hayes Fawcett reported that the SEC squad had landed a commitment from defensive lineman Dereon Albert out of Jackson, Mississippi, but things didn't stop there.
Roughly two minutes later, in another report from Fawcett, it was revealed that Tennessee had also received a commitment from linebacker TJ White, who happens to be teammates with Albert as members of the Jackson Academy Raiders.
Both are very exciting, with White being the higher rated of the two, as On3 Industry Rankings place him as a four-star recruit, the No. 5 linebacker, the No. 5 player in Mississippi and the No. 80 player in the nation.
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However, that doesn't mean Albert is some slough. He is a four-star recruit, the No. 34 defensive lineman, the No. 13 player in Mississippi and the No. 347 player in the nation.
If the pair were looking to stay together at the collegiate level, Tennessee wasn't their only option, as they both received offers from the Texas A&M Aggies, the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Auburn Tigers and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Tennessee Volunteers football head coach Josh Heupel© Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There's no doubt that the Volunteers are glad to have them, though, as the pair helps boost their 2025 recruiting class to No. 5 in the SEC and No. 12 in the nation with a total of 15 commitments, per On3.
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Related: Notre Dame Posts Four-Word Reaction to Jeremiyah Love News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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