The Tennessee Vols discovered a valuable asset in the 2025 recruiting class.

The Tennessee Vols may have unearthed a promising prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.

Earlier this offseason, three-star wide receiver Joakim Dodson committed to Tennessee. Dodson, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 185 lbs, hails from Collierville, TN. In 247Sports’ composite rankings, he is listed as the No. 104 wide receiver nationally and the No. 630 overall player in his recruiting class, which may not be considered impressive for an SEC commitment.

However, Dodson’s ranking could soon see an upward trend. On3’s Charles Power singled him out as one of the standout performers at the Under Armour Next Series camp in Nashville over the past weekend. Power observed that Dodson excelled in making significant plays during the camp’s 1-on-1 sessions.

According to On3, Dodson showcased his abilities by making several impactful plays during the camp, including catching a long touchdown pass, out-jumping defensive backs for high-point receptions, and displaying agility to create separation. Despite his listed size, Dodson’s athleticism and strong hands enable him to play larger than his stature suggests, consistently making tough catches.

This highlights Tennessee’s coaching staff’s trust in their internal evaluations, despite differing opinions from recruiting services. While recruiting services generally do an admirable job, evaluating high school talent remains a nuanced task. The Vols identified Dodson as a talented player capable of thriving in the SEC, which led to his commitment in February. Now, Dodson is beginning to validate the confidence the Tennessee staff placed in him.

While signing five-star recruits is crucial for building a championship-caliber team, discovering overlooked talents like Dodson can also be pivotal, as exemplified by Georgia’s success with Ladd McConkey.