Tennessee Footbal Loses Elite 4-Star Commit — and Miami is Fully to Blame
In a major recruiting shakeup, the Tennessee Volunteers have lost one of their top 2025 commitments — and all signs point south to Miami as the cause.
Four-star cornerback Chris Ewald Jr., who had been verbally committed to Tennessee since early spring, announced his decommitment this week in a stunning social media post. The highly touted defensive back from Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, FL) is now expected to flip to the Miami Hurricanes, dealing a significant blow to Josh Heupel’s 2025 recruiting class.
Ewald, ranked among the top 200 players nationally and one of the best corners in the Southeast, cited a desire to “re-evaluate” his options and “be closer to home” — a statement that many insiders believe was sparked by a full-court press from Mario Cristobal’s staff in Coral Gables.
The Miami Momentum
Miami has ramped up its recruiting efforts in Florida, especially targeting in-state prospects with SEC offers. Cristobal and defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae reportedly made Ewald a priority in recent weeks, offering immediate playing time and the chance to stay near his family. With Miami aggressively building a top-10 class, flipping a key SEC commit like Ewald sends a loud message.
Trouble for Tennessee?
For Tennessee, Ewald’s decommitment is more than a numbers issue — it’s symbolic. He was one of the defensive cornerstones of the class, and losing him to a resurgent Miami program underscores the competitive intensity of national recruiting. The Vols still boast a strong 2025 class, but they’ll need to regroup quickly to replace a high-caliber corner with Ewald’s speed and instincts.
Tennessee fans are frustrated, and understandably so. The Vols had invested heavily in building relationships with Ewald and his camp. Now, Miami has swooped in at the eleventh hour to likely secure a commitment from one of the top defensive backs in the nation.
What’s Next?
With Ewald’s recruitment back open, the Hurricanes are seen as the clear favorite — though Alabama and Florida State could also make late pushes. For Tennessee, the focus will shift to other elite targets in the secondary, including four-star CB Jontae Gilbert and in-state prospect Kaleb Beasley, as they look to reload.
Recruiting is a game of momentum — and right now, it looks like Miami has it.
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