Tennessee football gains commitment from top 4-star internal OL

admin | June 24, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Tennessee football scored a significant recruiting win last week with the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Charles House from Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman chose Tennessee over SEC opponents Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia.

Josh Heupel and the Vols received another major commitment on Monday in the form of outstanding four-star interior offensive lineman Douglas Utu. The Las Vegas, Nevada player chose the Vols over Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington.

Utu revealed his decision on Twitter/X, writing, “Proud to announce that I will be committing my craft and talents to the University of Tennessee! You cannot spell UTU without UT! “Go, Vols!”

Proud to be announcing that I will be committing my craft and talents to the University of Tennessee! You can’t spell UTU without UT! Go Vols!🍊🍊🍊@AneUtu @wilson_utu @BishopGormanFB @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/6ktZPawGZL

— Douglas Utu (@DouglasUtu56) June 24, 2024

On3 Sports lists the 6-foot-4, 315-pound interior lineman from Bishop Gorman High School as the No. 2 player in Nevada, the No. 3 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 53 overall recruit in the 2025 class.

Charles Power, On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings, described Utu as “a standout on the offensive line at powerhouse Bishop Gorman for several seasons.” Despite his long-term prospects, Utu has primarily worked at tackle for Gorman. So he’s polished and skilled at pass protection.

“He’s also physically developed, and as a result of his coaching and competitive football experience, he enters college with a higher floor. Utu is a good athlete who can play a variety of positions on the line as needed.

He is also the third offensive lineman to join what has the potential to be an exceptional offensive line class if everyone stays together. Utu will join Antoni Ogumoro and Nic Moore in the 2025 class. Heupel has prioritized acquiring top quality in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class now ranks 12th in the nation, with seven three-stars, six four-stars, and one five-star. The Vols presently lead Michigan, Penn State, and SEC teams Texas, Ole Miss, and Missouri.