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KNOXVILLE — Kendall Bussey became the second defection from Tennessee’s 2015 recruiting class in the weeks leading up to signing day when the running back from New Orleans flipped his commitment to Texas A&M on Monday.
The nation’s No. 3 all-purpose back according to Rivals.com, Bussey committed to the Volunteers in December, but he took official visits to College Station and Knoxville the past two weekends.
He had committed to Tulane and Nebraska before pledging to the Vols.
The 5-foot-8, 200-pounder said in a message posted on his Twitter account Monday afternoon that signing with the Aggies on Wednesday is the “best decision for my life during and after college” for him and his family.
“The recruiting process by no means defines who I am as a person,” Bussey’s message stated. “It’s a business and is treated as such. This is the only time in my life that I get to be selfish and focus on what’s best for me. Because this decision is so important to my future, I want to be sure that I make the right one.
“Situations constantly change and it took a while for me to find the school and team best for me.”
Later in his message, Bussey thanked Tennessee “for the opportunity to play for such a prestigious program and the fan base for being one of the best and most supportive in the country.”
Tennessee will have just two scholarship running backs — rising sophomore Jalen Hurd, the team’s leading rusher in 2014, and junior college transfer and January enrollee Alvin Kamara — available for spring practice.
John Kelly, a running back out of Michigan, committed to the Vols last month and will sign with Tennessee on Wednesday, and Cincinnati graduate transfer Ralph David Abernathy and 2015 athlete commitments Vincent Perry and Jocquez Bruce could get looks at running back.
Tennessee’s backfield depth for 2015 took hits after freshmen Derrell Scott transferred to East Carolina and Treyvon Paulk was dismissed in September for alleged punching his ex-girlfriend, though he remains enrolled at Tennessee.
Marques Ford, a defensive end from Florida, recently pledged to Rutgers after decommitting from Tennessee, whose class now sits at 28 players, 10 of whom already have enrolled.
Tennessee’s biggest remaining target is Memphis offensive tackle Drew Richmond, an Ole Miss commitment who took an official visit to Knoxville this past weekend.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.