In-state recruiting is vital, especially in SEC territory where elite programs can be found seemingly a stone’s throw away.
That’s what makes the commitment of Javonte Smith, three-star cornerback from Jackson, Tennessee, so important for the Tennessee Volunteers.
He may not be Josh Heupel’s highest-rated 2026 commitment. That honor currently belongs to five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon. Smith is ranked as a top 50 player from the state, though, and he was considering leaving Tennessee as well.
Arkansas, Missouri and West Virginia were also also in the running. In fact, he took officials to all three programs before his official with the Volunteers on June 20.
Ultimately, Heupel and the Vols made it appealing for Smith to want to stay in-state. It was the official visit to Knoxville that sealed the deal.
“Honestly, just being there (that) weekend just made me feel at home, just made me feel way more comfortable than I’ve felt at the other schools,” Smith said, according to Ryan Callahan of 247Sports.
“Being around the coaches and the staff, they just showed me so much love that I could only ask for (from) a coaching staff like that, so it just made me feel at home. And I feel like I can develop myself there — not only as a human, but as I continue my journey in football and after football.”
