Get out your best checkered overalls Rocky Top, there’s company coming in! This weekend Neyland Stadium hosts ESPN College Game Day, the Florida Gators, and 101,915 screaming fans. If that’s not enough of a party, the Vols are also hosting some major Tennessee recruiting targets for 2023.
This year it’s the CBS Game of the Week and the site of ESPN College Game Day. This is the first time CGD has been to Knoxville since 2016. Neyland Stadium is sold out. And now, the Vols are hosting some major players in the 2023 recruiting class too.
Nico Iamaleava
Traveling to Knoxville from Downey, CA is Vols QB-to-be, Nico Iamaleava. The five-star commit makes his first official game visit on Saturday to experience the Tennessee-Florida rivalry from the best seats in the house.
Iamaleava, whose NIL valuation surpassed $1million earlier this summer, is the crown jewel of Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class. He is joined this weekend by major recruiting targets including Jordan Matthews and Daevin Hobbs. Iamaleava has been committed to Tennessee since March of this year.
Related Article: Five-Star TN Commit Surpasses $1Million NIL Valuation
Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews is a four-star CB commit for the Vols. Out of Baton Rouge, LA, Matthews committed to Tennessee on August 15. He announced via Twitter on Wednesday that he is headed to Knoxville this weekend for the Tennessee-Florida showdown in Neyland Stadium. This is his first trip to Knoxville since his official visit in June.
Per On3 Sports, Matthews is the No.14 CB in the 2023 recruiting cycle and the No.134 recruit overall. He’s also the No.7 player in the state of Louisiana.
Matthews chose Tennessee over Michigan and Texas, and has an NIL valuation of $137,000.
Daevin Hobbs
Unlike Iamaleava and Matthews, Daevin Hobbs has not yet committed to Tennessee. The battle for the Concord, NC based five-star DL is in full swing.
Hobbs has three official visits scheduled for the fall. One of them is this weekend as he heads to Knoxville for the Vol-Gator brawl. This is Hobbs’ third trip to Knoxville since the beginning of the summer.
Hobbs is the No.13 DL in the 2023 recruiting cycle and the No.130 prospect overall. Additionally, he’s the No.2 player in the state of North Carolina. Though originally slated to announce a commitment in July, Hobbs is flexible and has discussed waiting until late November instead. Despite the delay in choosing a school, the amount of time Hobbs has spent in Knoxville is hopefully a good sign for the Vols.
Daevin Hobbs knows he is a top priority recruit for Tennessee. Coach Heupel attended Hobbs’ first game this season, and his family maintains regular communication with the Vols’ coaching staff. This is a big weekend for everyone. Fingers crossed he’s too moved by Checker Neyland to seriously consider any of his other suitors.
The Vols Give Their All for Tennessee
Tennessee vs. Florida is one of the most highly anticipated rivalry games every year but this year is different.
This year it’s the CBS Game of the Week and the site of ESPN College Game Day. This is the first time CGD has been to Knoxville since 2016. Neyland Stadium is sold out. And now, the Vols are hosting some major players in the 2023 recruiting class too.
A healthy dose of southern hospitality plus a Tennessee win could go a long way for the Vols-to-be. To catch all the action, tune in to CBS at 3:30 PM EST on Saturday!
