EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTennessee landed another quarterback for the future Monday with a commitment from four-star prospect Kaden Craft, ESPN's No. 3 dual-threat passer in the 2028 cycle.The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback from Mooresville, North Carolina, is the No. 103 overall recruit in SC Next ESPN Junior 300. He gave his pledge to the Volunteers over finalists Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss and Oregon on Monday in a live announcement with Rivals.com after spring and summer visits with the Gators, Tigers, Wolverines and Tennessee.Craft, a 20-game starter at North Carolina's Lake Norman High School, is the first member of Vols coach Josh Heupel's 2028 recruiting class. He completed 60% of his passes for 1,739 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions as a sophomore last fall. Craft's versatility as a backfield playmaker is owed at least in part to a well-rounded athletic background that includes basketball, track and field, wrestling and BMX racing.For Tennessee, Craft marks the latest addition to the program's quarterback pipeline.The Volunteers' collection of promising passing talent is headlined by five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, who signed with the program last December as the nation's No. 14 overall prospect.The big-armed prospect from Greensboro, North Carolina, projects as a franchise quarterback in the long-term and remains in contention for Tennessee's starting job in 2026 alongside sophomore George MacIntyre. In the 2027 cycle, the Volunteers have held the pledge of three-star quarterback Derrick Baker, ESPN's No. 10 dual-threat quarterback, since February.Craft, who cannot sign until December 2027, is the No. 7 overall quarterback in the SC Next ESPN Junior 300. His decision continues a flurry of movement in the 2028 quarterback market after No. 1 pocket passer Christopher Vargas committed to Ohio State on Aug. 8 and Texas A&M beat LSU and Oregon to four-star passer Donald Tabron II (No. 26 overall) this past weekend.With all but three of ESPN's top 300 prospects in the 2027 cycle committed, FBS programs have turned their attention to the 2028 class this summer, beginning with the quarterback class. Upon Craft's move, eight of ESPN's top 10 passers in the cycle will enter their respective junior seasons holding verbal pledges, including seven who committed after June 1.Tennessee reaches late August with the No. 23 recruiting class in ESPN's latest class rankings for the 2027 cycle. The Vols will open their 2026 campaign against Furman on Sept. 5.
