The Tennessee Volunteers are still waiting on a decision from one of their top remaining running back prospects in the 2027 recruiting class: Andrew Beard.
Widely viewed as one of the top backs in the state of Georgia, Beard has developed into a highly regarded four-star talent and the standout player at Prince Avenue Christian School.
Beard is coming off a tremendous 2025 campaign in which he totaled nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns.
His versatility has made him one of the nation’s rising stars at the position, as he can impact games both as a runner and a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
His skill set would fit perfectly in the up-tempo offense led by Josh Heupel, giving Tennessee a dangerous dual-threat option at running back.
However, the Volunteers face stiff competition for Beard’s commitment. The finalists include the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, and Clemson Tigers, with Beard scheduled to announce his decision at 4:00 PM EST.
At the moment, Florida appears to hold a slight advantage, though the other programs continue to make strong pushes.
Tennessee has also been heavily involved with other elite 2027 running backs, including David Gabriel-Georges and Asa Barnes. Still, landing Beard would give the Vols major momentum in the class and could strengthen their chances with additional top targets.
Beard has reportedly shown openness to joining a recruiting class that features multiple running backs, despite clearly possessing the talent to become a featured back at the college level.
For Tennessee, pairing Beard with Gabriel-Georges would represent a massive recruiting win, though a combination of Barnes and Gabriel-Georges would also be considered a strong outcome.
Beard’s explosiveness and versatility make him one of the most coveted offensive prospects on the Vols’ board, and Tennessee has prioritized him for quite some time. Securing his commitment would be a major boost for the future of the program.
