Four-Star EDGE Jayden Loftin Is Headed to Rocky Top

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The Tennessee Volunteers have landed talented four-star EDGE Jayden Loftin. News of the commitment came out on social media on June 12.

After visiting the Tennessee campus last weekend, Loftin told Rivals.com that the "family aspect of everything" at UT cemented his decision to become a Volunteer.

Loftin's commitment strengthens an already impressive 2025 recruiting class in Knoxville.

Loftin's Bio, Stats

Loftin is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He is from Somerville, N.J., where he will be a high school senior this year. He is rated as the No. 27 EDGE in his class according to the 247Sports Composite. Additionally, he is ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the state of New Jersey.

According to Rvials, Loftin not only excels as a pass-rusher but also wreaks havoc against the run. He has a quick first step which he utilizes to intrude in opposing backfields swiftly. As a junior in 2023, Loftin tallied 33 tackles, including 5.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss, along with 1 interception.

Loftin Joins Talented Volunteer Recruiting Class

With the signing of Loftin, Tennessee's 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 13 in the country according to On3. Fellow four-star EDGE Ethan Utley from Nashville joins Loftin in the Volunteers' stout 2025 class, headlined by five-star quarterback George MacIntyre who signed in January.

Impressive EDGE Room at Tennessee

The commitment of Loftin adds more depth and firepower to an already talent-laden group of Tennessee edge rushers. Coach Josh Heupel and defensive line coach Rodney Garner have excelled in recruiting and developing edge rushers: In the 2022 class, they landed James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs, who were both four-star recruits. They duplicated the feat in their 2023 class, bringing in four-star EDGEs Caleb Herring and Chandavian Bradley. Then, in the 2024 class, the Volunteers landed five-star recruit Jordan Ross.

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Pearce, Josephs, Herring, Bradley and Ross are all playing in Knoxville this season. However, Pearce will likely be en route to the NFL after this year, as he was named first-team All-Southeast Conference last season and is projected as a top 10 selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

Hence, even in the event of Pearce's likely departure, Loftin will be surrounded by a group of talented edge rushers when he enrolls at Tennessee in 2025.