2027 IMG Academy (Fla.) standout wide receiver
Eric McFarland visited Tennessee on Thursday, and the Vols impressed the coveted prospect. He went in-depth with
Volquest on the visit.
“I really enjoyed everything,” McFarland said. “Just being at the practice facility and seeing the ins and outs of everything was great. It really just shocked me because I really didn’t know what to look for when I was coming up here, but it really just changed my perspective in a good way. Just really seeing what there culture was.”
McFarland has built a strong bond with Tennessee Wide Receivers Coach Kelsey Pope and offensive analyst Deonte Cruse. He enjoyed his time around Cruse during the visit, and he enjoyed what he saw from Pope on Thursday in the meeting room and out on the practice field.
“I just love it how he is one hundred percent transparent with you,” McFarland said of Pope. “Him just keeping it real with how I can fit into the offense with just me as person. I definitely see the way he is on his receivers consistently. Not petty, and I like that. I just like how he is genuinely there for his receivers off the field. He really wants to make them a better man.”
Tennessee Head Coach
Josh Heupel has also made a strong impression on the standout pass-catcher.
“I mess with him really because he being real and showing me around and telling me about being in the offense,” McFarland said. “It was a lot of good things and getting to know him better today.
The message from Tennessee was clear to McFarland on Tuesday.
“They see me as an impact receiver as a freshman, just being a help to the offense for the first year and giving them more leverage as an offense,” McFarland said.
The Tennessee passing attack has stood out to McFarland for some time, and he is close with a couple of current Vols as well, including Tristen Keys. This is something that appeals to the coveted pass-catcher.
“Most definitely,” McFarland said. “So, Tristen and me have a tight connection, and they have another commit that is coming in the summer, Tyreek King, that is my boy, too. I have a good connection with the 2026s, so that is definitely a big appeal to me, too.”
So what did this visit do for the Vols in McFarland’s recruitment?
“They were most definitely already high on my list before because of the relationship me and Coach Pope, but now just being able to talk with him and be in the meeting with him and being able to talk with coach Heup about all things Tennessee was good.”
McFarland is working to set a final official visit, and the Vols are firmly in the mix for one following the visit.
As of now, he plans to make a decision in the summer. He knows what is most important to him in the process.
“Really just being transparent. I don’t want any fake stuff. I don’t want to hear any of that. The development and what can you do for me there. How do they see me in their offense? What is your plan for me? I don’t want to hear about anybody else. I want to see how you think I can come in and change a program. Really family-oriented and how you treat me and my family.”
