The Tennessee Volunteers just recently received the commitment of their top priority in the 2027 cycle when David Gabriel-Georges chose the Vols over Ohio State.Josh Heupel and company are wasting little time beginning to prioritize some top targets in the 2028 class.Kaden Craft, a highly talented quarterback gave Tennessee football it's first pledge of the cycle. Craft is 6-foot-4, 265-pound and happens to be from.... North Carolina. Heupel has a thing for gunslingers from the Tar Heel state.12 days ago, the Volunteers found themselves in the Top 12 for a highly sought-after defensive lineman.— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) August 21, 20262028 Five-Star Christian Academy of Louisville (KY) DL Kellan HallFive-Star DL Kellan Hall heading to the field after halftime. | Dale Dowden - Vols on SIKellan Hall has surged up the rankings with dominant showings at numerous camps while competing with some of the nation's top talent.Hall has a very impressive composite/industry ranking when accounting for all three major recruiting sites. Position (DL) - 1State (KY) - 1National (Overall) - 2Vols on SI had the pleasure of seeing Hall in action as Christian Academy of Louisville shut-out Owensboro 52-0. "I feel like we could have done better," was the first thing from Hall's mouth."I wanted 60 (points). We didn't get there. Next time, we'll have some things corrected and make it there."Hall was very quick to point at the off-season work that was put in that has led to this point and what helped produce last night's dominant performance."I went against the best in the country. I went to all of those camps and people kept asking me if I'm a top player, why do I keep going? I want to get better, and when I come back here, they see the difference in me," Hall told Vols on SI.— Dale Dowden (@Dale_Dowden) August 28, 2026Hall plays with a high motor and is very athletic for his size. As you see above, the stunt by the tackles created a Red Sea caliber gap for the five-star to shoot and make the play.Kellan Hall (@KellanHbigdawg) bullying his way into the backfield@VolsOnSI pic.twitter.com/19F2gnid8R— Dale Dowden (@Dale_Dowden) August 29, 2026Although Hall didn't make the tackle, he definitely helped collapse the pocket, leaving the quarterback no where to go.The blue-chip defensive lineman has taken a business approach to the recruiting process and is wasting very little to no time.10 of the Top 12 schools already have Fall visits in place as an early January decision make take place."Early January, that's when I'm going to commit. I'm going to go to the Under Armor All-American Game, I'll probably commit on ESPN. By that time, me and my family will have made a great decision. We dropped my schools, visit schedule, and I feel like we have a great aspect on where I want to go, what I want to do there," Hall explained.Vols Make Top 12The VOLS letters during a NCAA football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 13, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectHow have the Vols positioned themselves with Hall?"Coach Heup (Josh Heupel) that's my guy, Coach G (Rodney Garner), all of those guys in Knoxville keep in touch, keep me motivated. Coach Knowles, they all keep in touch, and they really keep me going. They love my game, what I can do. They think I can be one of the best to ever do it," Hall said.Rodney Garner ImpactTennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.