BREAKING NEWS: 4-star Tennessee commit provides concerning update after his Vols official visit due to…..

A few months after celebrating a high-profile unofficial visit to Knoxville, four-star wide receiver JJ Harrell (6′ 0″, 187 lb) is sending mixed

💭 “My recruitment is still open”

Harrell, ranked No. 22 nationally at his position and No. 3 in Mississippi by 247Sports, surprised many by telling On3 recently:

“My recruitment is just still open. I’m enjoying this process that I’ve earned. Most definitely a lot of schools have been reaching out. I just had to let them know my recruitment was still open.”

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That frank admission comes despite his official pledge to Tennessee in late February — a commitment thought to have solidified the Vols’ 2026 wide receiver class. Harrell has expressed confidence in his decision, yet his ongoing openness invites outside interest and potential program flips.

Visits on the radar

Although Harrell has praised Tennessee and insisted he “made the right choice,” he confessed to continuing the recruiting process with schools like Ole Miss (under Lane Kiffin), indicating this spring might involve additional visits before anything is signed, sealed, and delivered

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What it means for Tennessee

Committing to the process means he can go official – Harrell still retains the option to take official visits with other programs, potentially diluting Tennessee’s grip on his decision.

Competitive interest is rising – Programs like Ole Miss and others are likely to ramp up engagement, sensing an opening to flip a coveted four-star.

Vols coaching staff needs to stay proactive – To ensure Harrell follows through, Tennessee must reinforce the relationship, clearly outline his fit in their system, and perhaps sweeten the deal.

Fans’ takeaway

Tennessee supporters should avoid premature celebration. While he appears grounded in his commitment and fond of Knoxville, Harrell’s public reaffirmation that his recruitment isn’t closed is a red flag. The Vols are far from safe until National Signing Day — continued engagement with him and his camp will be essential to secure this prized in-state WR.

TL;DR

Commitment status: JJ Harrell is still committed to Tennessee, but the door is open.

Recruiting signal: He’s clearly allowing other schools to compete.

Action items for Vols: Keep pushing relationship, offer clarity, and reinforce his decision before it sways.