Tennessee is strengthening the inside of its future line of defense, as class of 2025 high-three-star defensive sort out Darrion Smith introduced his dedication to the Volunteers on Tuesday night.
The Saint Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland) inside defensive lineman was again in Knoxville this previous weekend for Tennessee’s “Massive Orange Kickoff” occasion. Whereas Smith hasn’t taken an official go to with the Vols but, the late-July journey helped him see that Tennessee was the place for him.
“It is simply the coaches,” Smith informed Rivals about his resolution to decide to Tennessee. “They’re family-oriented. I just like the tradition up there and so they’re constructing one thing.”
The Volunteers supplied Smith a scholarship in December of 2022, and the connection progressed from there. He has taken a number of unofficial visits to Knoxville.
Smith feels comfy with head coach Josh Heupel, defensive coordinator Tim Banks, line of defense coach Rodney Garner, defensive graduate assistant Robert Ayers Jr. and the remainder of the Tennessee employees.
“They have been recruiting me for like (over) a 12 months,” Smith defined. “So simply them recruiting me this entire time, staying linked, me going up there — I have been up there about 4 occasions — simply being round them, attending to know the coaches extra, it made it a simple selection.”
Smith trusts Garner and Ayers to develop him alongside the line of defense, which is a significant motive why he selected the Volunteers.
“Coach Ayers was within the league (NFL) for 10 years — he is been by all the things I have been by, so I do know all the things he is saying is the reality as a result of he is carried out it,” Smith stated. “And Coach G (Gardner), he is been there (at Tennessee) for 4 years. He is been doing his factor with a whole lot of NFL guys.”
Tennessee at present has two gamers on its rosters who additionally attended Saint Frances Academy in redshirt senior defensive lineman Dominic Bailey and true freshman Edrees Farooq.
Smith performed with Farooq all through his highschool profession and has been capable of choose his mind about what life is like as a student-athlete at Tennessee.
“He likes it (and says) the coaches are like household,” Smith stated about Farooq. “He loves it up there.”
The highly effective and fast, 6-foot-3, 268-pound Smith will primarily play defensive sort out and line up as a three-technique for the Volunteers, however talked about that he might probably line up at another spots as nicely.
Smith additionally famous that he plans to show his consideration to the recruiting path, and one of many targets he hopes to persuade to change into a Vol is James “Tank” Carrington, his former highschool teammate. Carrington is a four-star defensive sort out who now performs for Bishop Gorman Excessive College in Las Vegas.
When describing what his recruiting pitch could be to potential recruits, Smith leaned into his perception that the Volunteers shall be a drive to be reckoned with within the coming seasons.
“Tennessee is constructing one thing nice within the subsequent few years,” Smith stated when requested what he’ll inform fellow recruits. “They are going to be probably the greatest groups within the nation, so simply come be a part of the household!”
Smith ranks because the No. 10 participant within the state of Maryland and No. 31 defensive sort out within the 2025 cycle. He has obtained greater than 20 scholarship gives.
With Smith now within the fold, Tennessee at present has 21 commitments in its 2025 class, together with six defensive linemen. The Volunteers rank within the top-10 within the nationwide crew recruiting rankings.
