Josh Heupel's Tennessee lands commitment of three-star cornerback Tre Poteat: Reports

Cornerback Tre Poteat committed to the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday, becoming their third pledge in the last four days. He is the son of former NFL cornerback and return specialist Hank Poteat, who played nine-years in the league. Hank now serves as the cornerback coach at Iowa State.

Tre received offers from more than 20 schools, including top-tier programs such as Alabama, Nebraska, Oregon, Michigan and Washington. Ultimately, he chose Tennessee due to his potential fit in the program.

“I see that with the resources they have can make me the best player I can be and really reach my max potential," Tre said to On3's Steve Wiltfong.

With Tre's addition, Tennessee's 2025 recruiting class now has 15 commits. According to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, the development boosted their spot to No. 12 in the nation. Meanwhile, they sit at No. 7 in the SEC as per the 247Sports team rankings.

Five-star quarterback George MacIntyre remains the focal point of the class, while other notable prospects are running back Justin Baker, wide receiver Joakim Dodson, tight end Jack VanDorselaer, offensive lineman Antoni Kade Aguon Ogumoro, edge rusher Jayden Loftin, defensive lineman Ethan Utley, cornerback Tyler Redmond and safety Sidney Walton.

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What does Tre Poteat like the most about Tennessee?

Tre's pledge to Tennessee came after an official visit to Knoxville during the weekend—he previously visited the campus in April.

The authenticity and straightforwardness of the coaching staff has touched his heart ever since.

“My favorite things about the Vols is that the coaches keep everything real. They never sugarcoated anything and just kept it honest,” Tre said via On3. “The fan support, there’s something different over in Knoxville.”

The statement resonated with the message from the Vols staff that he shared following his visit.

“They preached to be to be ready to work if I come here. They told me that I just needed to come in with a good mindset.”

Head coach Josh Heupel has developed a culture of genuine connection and hard work within the Tennessee football program. Under Heupel's leadership, Tre sees immense potential that he couldn’t overlook.

Tre, currently ranked as a three-star prospect by most major sites and a four-star recruit by Rivals, is the No. 585 overall prospect in the nation according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He holds the No. 60 spot among cornerbacks in the 2025 recruiting class and is the No. 4 player in Wisconsin. He is expected to sign for the Vols on December 4, when the early signing period kicks off.