Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman blue-chip cornerback
Hayden Stepp told Rivals at the Under Armour All-America Game in late December that Tennessee was in his top two with Alabama.
He’s now navigating some coaching changes on the Vols staff.
“I had a good relationship with the previous DB coach, which is why Tennessee is in my top five,” Stepp said. “I was a little surprised when I found out he moved on.
“Coach (Michael) Hunter reached out to me right away after taking over as the new DB coach. He let me know that Tennessee is still recruiting me and that I fit well in their defensive scheme.”
The Vols check a lot of boxes for Stepp.
“Tennessee has a long history of winning and developing players for the next level, which really stands out to me. With Coach (Jim) Knowles coming in, who has a strong coaching background, and Derek Owings as the new strength and conditioning coach, I think the staff has a lot of potential to be very competitive next season.
“I also like the resources and support they have for players on and off the field, especially the academic support that helps athletes stay on track in the classroom. I really liked the atmosphere and the fans at Tennessee, and I’m looking forward to building my relationship with the staff there.”
