KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee landed a commitment from one of its top linebacker targets Monday.
Darrin Kirkland, a former Michigan commitment out of Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, announced his pledge to the Volunteers during a ceremony at his school Monday afternoon.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound four-star prospect is expected to enroll at Tennessee next month after he plays in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 3.
Kirkland, ranked the nation's No. 5 inside linebacker prospect by 247Sports.com, committed to the Wolverines in May, but he reopened his recruitment in early November, about a month before Michigan fired coach Brady Hoke after a 5-7 season.
Back on the market, Kirkland took official visits to Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tennessee (for the Missouri game), Southern California and Texas. Other scholarship offers came from Oregon, Florida, Arkansas, Penn State, Missouri, Nebraska, Mississippi State and Wisconsin, among others.
Tennessee coach Butch Jones, defensive line coach Steve Stripling and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen had their in-home visit with Kirkland nearly two weeks ago.
If he does indeed enroll in January, he will join a group of mid-term arrivals including junior college tailback Alvin Kamara, touted defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, quarterback prospects Quinten Dormady and Jauan Jennings, offensive linemen Jack Jones and Chance Hall, defensive end Andrew Butcher and safety Stephen Griffin.
Tennessee's 2015 class is at 25 commitments with Kirkland's pledge and the defection of two longtime commitments.
Lakeland (Fla.) linebacker Cecil Cherry, a four-star according to 247Sports, recently decommitted after taking an official visit to Texas in November, and Dylan Jackson, a defensive end/offensive tackle out of nearby Maryville, opened his recruitment Monday amid interest from LSU and Stanford.
The Vols unofficially have 61 scholarship players returning next season.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.