Josh Heupel's Tennessee lands commitment from 4-star LB Jaedon Harmon to the class of 2025

By Maliha

Modified Aug 19, 2024 10:35 GMT

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Four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon from Rome High School in Georgia flipped his commitment from Alabama to Tennessee's 2025 class on Sunday. It marks a huge win for the Vols, as the program just landed a commitment from five-star plus offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. this week.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Harmon penned his recruitment update to social media, writing:

"I want to thank the entire Alabama staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play for a great great program! Respect my Decision #GBO🍊 @WilliamInge1 @coachjoshheupel."

Harmon finished his junior season with impressive stats, including 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception, earning him All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Jaedon Harmon gives coach Josh Heupel's Tennessee 23 commitments for the 2025 cycle, which ranks No. 6 in the 2025 class and No. 4 in the SEC. He is the second prospect in the class that the program has flipped this summer, following four-star tight end DaSaahn Brame.

Meanwhile, Alabama's 2025 class is now left with 20 committed players, but the class remains strong, ranking No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC. The cycle holds commitments from blue-chip prospects like offensive tackle Ty Haywood, wide receiver Caleb Cunningham and quarterback Keelon Russell.

Why did Jaedon Harmon flip his commitment to Tennessee?

Jaedon Harmon had nearly 40 scholarship offers before choosing to commit to Alabama. He announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on April 14 and followed it up with an official visit to Tuscaloosa on June 7.

However, throughout his recruitment, Tennessee continued to pursue Harmon aggressively. His connection with the program began early in his recruitment, even before he received any offers. The Vols treated him with the same level of importance as their other top targets.

Harmon's relationship was initially with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who later moved on to coach at Michigan. When coach Heupel became Tennessee’s head coach, he brought in William Inge as the linebackers coach and Harmon later formed a strong bond with Inge.

“I see myself being able to fit into that scheme great. Just because of the way they use their inside backers, then the ways they use their WILL backers and send them off the edge and use them to cover. It is all stuff that I am really good at.”

Jaedon Harmon can sign with Tennessee's 2025 class on Dec. 4, when the early signing period begins. He is ranked by On3 as the nation's No. 129 overall prospect, the No. 13 linebacker in the 2025 class and the No. 20 recruit in the state of Georgia. 247Sports ranks him as the nation's No. 231 prospect, the No. 22 linebacker and the No. 33 recruit in the state.