Somerville (N.J.) EDGE Jayden Loftin took his official visit to Tennessee last weekend and he was scheduled to visit Syracuse this coming weekend, then Penn State on June 21, but he doesn’t need those visits any longer.
Loftin saw all he needed in Knoxville and he has committed to Tennessee.
“I went into that visit with high interest in Tennessee because I liked the coaches and how they ran their program, then on the official visit, I got the feeling that it was the place for me,” Loftin told On3. “Since I visited in the spring, I loved Tennessee and I knew it was the place for me on the visit.”
His first visit was spring practice and that set the tone for the Vols in recruitment. From the way Josh Heupel conducted practice to the energy to the standard the players held themselves had an impact on Loftin. He saw the effort from the staff and the players then.
The relationships continued to build throughout the spring and Tennessee and he knows he wants to be a Vol.
“The coaches care about their players and they want them to acheive their lifelong dreams. Even if it not in the NFL, Tennessee wants their guys to make it outside of football. They make sure the players get their school work done, they make sure they have financial literacy and they do all they can to make sure their players are successful. It was the little things that really triggered me and my family. Those things played into my decision.”
Loftin is ready to be a part of the Tennessee family
Around 20 schools offered Loftin. Tennessee was the sixth school to offer the No. 35 EDGE in the On3 Industry Ranking. His recruitment is over. The only college town he plans to visit moving forward is Knoxville and he is excited about the team he is now a part of.
“It is a big family at Tennessee,” Loftin said. “Everyone is so tight and get along. It doesn’t matter what grade the players are in or what position they play, they all are together. The coaches are the same. They all care about each other and how they are all a family stood out to me.”
On the visit, Loftin and his parents were looking for reasons not to commit, but after about 24 hours on campus, they couldn’t come up with one, so the commitment was announced in style.
“On Saturday, during the photo shoot, there was a DJ playing music. I had him announce my commitment over the loud speaker and that is how everyone found out. It was pretty exciting.”
Loftin will play SEC ball at Tennessee
Growing up, Loftin had his eye on SEC football. He knew about the Big Ten too, but he called the SEC the “pinnacle” of college football. He is ready to go to work in Knoxville and compete at a top program in the top conference.
“Tennessee is where I want to be,” Loftin said. “The family aspect there is big for me. Then I am big in faith and they have people in the program my relationship with God evolve and grown. The developmental part was key too. All those were big things for me in my decision and now I get to play in the SEC.
“I have a lot of adapting and growing to do, but I am ready. Tennessee will get me ready and I am excited about the future.”
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