Crucial 2027 target for Josh Heupel and son of Tennessee Vols legend checks in at a lofty position in new recruiting rankings

This is what an On3 Scout had to say about Witten: 

“Versatility is always coveted at the linebacker position and Cooper Witten has it in bunches. His ability to play between the hashes, trigger downhill, play in man and zone coverage allows him to cover almost every blade of grass between the white lines. Plus, he’s a quality athlete that plays on the offensive side of the ball and has run sub-11.0 in the 100m. The combination of instincts and athleticism at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds makes him one of the most polished defensive prospects in the cycle.” - Cody Bellaire, On3 national scout

The son of legendary Vols tight end and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Witten, Cooper is listed as the top linebacker in the country by just about every outlet, with only ESPN having outside of the top spot as their #2 linebacker. 

As one would expect, just about everyone is pursing Witten.  On3 Sports recently listed SMU as the slight leader for his services.  However, the good news for Vol fans (and those of everyone else) is there doesn't appear to be a strong leader or lean at this point.  Tennessee certainly is unique among all schools recruiting him based on his father's impact and legacy in Knoxville. 

But we'll see over the coming months if that's something that's a good thing or a bad thing for Heupel and the Vols - whether Witten wants to follow in his father's footsteps or write his own story somewhere else.