Home is where the heart is.
So the classic saying goes, and that's becoming the mantra for Josh Heupel to differentiate the Tennessee Volunteers from other SEC teams the cutthroat world of SEC college football recruiting.
The Vols landed another 4-star recruit, this time landing Elkhart, Indiana EDGE Mariyon Dye.
Dye announced the decision via X on Friday, June 28.
I’m HOME, Go vols!!🍊 pic.twitter.com/58ztvcwhLV
— Mariyon Dye ✞ (@MariyonDye) June 28, 2024
A 4-star recruit and one of the top players in Indiana, Dye had offers from other top programs. That list included the likes of the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, and Ohio State Buckeyes.
However, in an interview with On3's Austin Price, Dye laid out what helped put the Volunteers over the edge.
“It was really just how they treated my family and me,” Dye explained. “The relationship I built with Coach Chop and Coach Heup, that was two big things for me... The coaches made it feel like home. The players made it feel like home. Everything just felt like home. When I told them, they were probably more excited than me. I am so excited and get there and get to work. I can’t wait."
The Volunteers had a top-10 recruiting class for 2025 prior to Dye's commitment. Head coach Josh Heupel is entering his third year running the Tennessee program, and it's obvious that his vision for the program and emphasis on family and home are giving his team a recruiting edge.
Tennessee's on-field record isn't hurting them, either. After a modest 7-6 start in Heupel's first season, the Volunteers have gone a combined 20-6 over the last two years, including wins in the Orange Bowl and Citrus Bowl.
After the positive messaging from Dye following his commitment, other top recruits across the country should start paying a bit more attention to the Volunteers.
