This is a tough recruiting setback for the Tennessee football program. Recruiting always comes with highs and lows, but this one hurts considering how heavily Josh Heupel and his staff pursued in-state defensive back Miles Brown.
Brown had been one of Tennessee’s top priorities for quite some time and made multiple visits to Knoxville, including a trip for the Orange and White Game earlier this spring. Despite all the effort from the Vols, SEC rival Kentucky ultimately won out and secured his commitment.
The 5-foot-11 four-star defensive back, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, looked like an ideal fit for Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme. Brown’s athleticism and versatility as a three-sport athlete gave him the ability to play either cornerback or safety at the next level. Instead, he’ll be heading to Lexington.
When announcing his commitment to Kentucky, Brown said, “Blue always been my color, tell BBN I’m coming home.”
Tennessee misses out on Miles Brown
Losing an in-state recruit is frustrating enough, but seeing him choose Kentucky makes it even tougher for Tennessee fans to swallow.
Credit deserves to go to Kentucky and new head coach Will Stein, however, because the Wildcats have done an impressive job on the recruiting trail with 16 commitments already in the class.
Still, it’s surprising that a versatile defensive back like Brown didn’t see Tennessee and Jim Knowles’ system as the perfect opportunity. Instead, he appears eager to be part of what could become an emerging Kentucky program.
This also marks the second straight day Tennessee has come up short with a defensive back target. The Vols recently lost another four-star DB from Knoxville to Clemson. At some point, Tennessee’s staff needs to start winning more of these key in-state recruiting battles, especially in the secondary, which has clearly been a major focus this cycle.
To be fair, Tennessee did recently secure a commitment from Madison, Tennessee cornerback Brandon Leavell.
At 6-foot-1, Leavell brings excellent size, strong upside, and an impressive offer list. Tennessee beat out programs such as Clemson, Florida, and Florida State for his commitment.
He also showcased his playmaking ability by recording four interceptions while adding 700 receiving yards on offense.
That’s a major pickup for the Vols, even if recruiting losses tend to linger longer in fans’ minds than recruiting wins.
Now Tennessee turns its attention to a crucial stretch of official visits as the staff works to build the core of its 2027 recruiting class. With only eight commitments so far, the Vols are not necessarily behind pace, but they do need a productive summer to avoid scrambling later in the cycle.
In the long run, this loss may not end up meaning much, but losing a top in-state target is never easy. The focus for Heupel and his staff now shifts to regrouping and landing the next big commitment.
