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Tennessee Receives Bad News on Former Star Commit Amid Recruiting Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sahil Goswami | Last updated May 22, 2025 12:32 PM ET

The Tennessee Volunteers have been active on the recruiting trail lately, trying to lock in key talent for their 2026 class. While Josh Heupel’s staff has made positive strides with several prospects, they just hit a bump in the road with a once-committed star. The latest development involves four-star defensive lineman Tyson Bacon, and it’s not the kind of news Vols fans were hoping for.

Bacon, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound standout from Hoover High School in Alabama, was once firmly in Tennessee’s corner. But on April 23, he decommitted and reopened his recruitment, creating a big opportunity for SEC rivals to make their moves.

Over the weekend, Georgia made the most of that opening. The Bulldogs hosted Bacon on an official visit from May 16–18, and it left quite the impression.

The visit, according to Bacon, was a complete “team effort” by the Georgia staff per The Rivals. That sense of unity and dedication reportedly stood out during his time in Athens. Photos posted to social media show Bacon clearly enjoying himself, and now Georgia seems to be surging as a serious contender. “They pulled out all the stops,” one insider noted, and it appears to be paying off.

2026 3⭐️ DL Tyson Bacon @TysonBacon_ from Hoover HS (AL) on his May 16th-18th OV to Georgia: pic.twitter.com/IyR5l5EYrT
— Bulldawg Recruiting (@bulldawgrecruit) May 22, 2025

Despite the shift, all hope isn't lost for Tennessee. Bacon still has an official visit lined up in Knoxville on June 20, which gives Heupel and his staff one more shot to win him back. But it won’t be easy. Alabama and Florida are also firmly in the mix, and Georgia’s momentum is real.

The Vols may have had him once, but the road to re-signing Tyson Bacon just got a lot tougher. With SEC rivals circling, Tennessee will need to bring its A-game to keep him from slipping away for good.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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