Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Tennessee's persistence pays off with flip of four-star from Auburn

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 9:49 PM ET

Hezekiah Harris, a four-star EDGE from Huntsville, Alabama committed to the Auburn Tigers well over a year ago.

It was in July 2024 that Harris pulled the trigger for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers, but Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers never gave up.

They understood that flips happen all the time on the college football recruiting trail, and sometimes it just takes a little bit of patience and persistence.

So Tennessee kept recruiting Harris, and that's now paid off in a big flip from the four-star.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Hezekiah Harris has Flipped his Commitment from Auburn to Tennessee, he tells me for @rivals

The Top 100 Recruit had been Committed to the Tigers since July of last year

“GBO ”https://t.co/UNlpz20XNp pic.twitter.com/xsAjzBFC9x
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 1, 2025

“Tennessee has never slowed down how they recruited me,” Harris told Chad Simmons of Rivals. “The coaches always made me feel wanted. They have recruited me hard, and they have always made me feel like a top guy.”

This is a big-time flip for the Volunteers, because according to the ranking, Harris is a "top guy".

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he's the No. 13 EDGE in the 2026 class.

Harris has visited Tennessee multiple times, including for an official visit in June, and he's developed a good connection with outside linebackers coach Levorn Harbin, also known as "Coach Chop".

“We have a great relationship,” Harris said. “Coach Chop has always been honest with me. He has always been real about Tennessee and how they want me.”

Harris is the 25th commitment to Heupel's 2026 class and he's the second big-time flip in the past week. Before college football's opening weekend, the Vols flipped five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys from LSU.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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