Caitie McMekin/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Vols' biggest home game of the year against the Georgia Bulldogs just became even more important thanks to a VIP visitor who will be in attendance

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Craig Smith | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 5:47 PM ET

The Tennessee Vols are working to build a strong 2026 class as the college football offseason comes to a close and fall camp gears up this week. But recruiting never stops, and a big name in the 2027 class continues to be a top priority for Josh Heupel and his staff.

It appears their work has been paying off. According to Rivals, the #1 linebacker in the 2027 class, Cooper Witten, has established a date that he will visit Knoxville and the Tennessee Vols, and that will be on the date of Tennessee's biggest game of the season - September 13 against the Georgia Bulldogs.

No. 1 LB Cooper Witten, the son of NFL legend Jason Witten, has locked in his next visit to Tennessee, per @SWiltfong_

Witten says he also wants to visit Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Clemson, and Texas this fall.

Read: https://t.co/NzA1zVBcEb pic.twitter.com/Fm6zi6qBX3
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 28, 2025

Tennessee obviously has a strong tie to the Witten family, as his father, Jason, was a standout for the Big Orange from 2000-02. He had 39 catches for 493 yards and 5 touchdowns in his final season with UT. He would go on to a 17-year career that will see him end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton one day.

However, Cooper told Rivals that he plans to take visits to a number of schools across the country, including the two biggest programs in his home state of Texas in the Longhorns and Aggies. He's also looking to visit Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. Witten checks in as the #21 overall player, #1 linebacker, and #4 player in the state of Texas in the Rivals/On3 industry ratings.

We'll see on September 13 if the Vols can snap an ugly streak (8 straight losses) against their border rival and give a little bit more incentive for the younger Witten to build another memorable legacy in Knoxville.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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