KNOXVILLE - The University of Tennessee picked up another big commitment for the 2020 football recruiting cycle on Friday, when pass rusher B.J. Ojulari from Georgia's Marietta High School pledged to the Volunteers.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Ojulari - whose current teammates include quarterback Harrison Bailey, also committed to Tennessee - is the 14th player to commit to the Vols for 2020. The four-star prospect, considered a weakside defensive end or outside linebacker, chose Tennessee over 17 other offers, including Southeastern Conference members Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU.
He is the first linebacker among players committed to the Vols for 2020.
Ojulari's brother Azeez is an outside linebacker at Georgia. Azeez was part of the Bulldogs' 2018 signing class and appeared in just three games last season, allowing him to redshirt.
B.J. Ojulari has 205 tackles (37 for loss) over the past two seasons. His sacks total went down from nine as a sophomore to five as a junior, but he was credited with defending two passes, forcing two fumbles, recovering a fumble and blocking a field goal last season. As a sophomore, he had four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Commitments are nonbinding until players sign, and the earliest opportunity for the 2020 class will be Dec. 18-20. The traditional national signing day for football is the first Wednesday in February, which will be Feb. 5, 2020.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.