When quarterback Nico Iamaleava committed to Tennessee on March 21, the hope for Volunteers fans was that other five-star prospects would follow in this 2023 recruiting cycle.
That hasn't been the case.
The Vols lost out to Miami on Monday afternoon for Francis Mauigoa of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, who is the nation's top tackle and No. 9 overall prospect on the 247Sports.com composite rankings. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder made his announcement on the CBS Sports HQ website.
Mauigoa took visits last month to Alabama, Florida, Southern California, Miami and Tennessee, with Knoxville being his last trip on June 24.
When asked during his CBS Sports HQ announcement what separated Mario Cristobal's Hurricanes from his other finalists, Mauigoa said, "The coaching staff there recruited me when they were at Oregon, and we've done a lot of bonding. To play for a coach who played O-line is an O-lineman's dream right there."
The Hurricanes also have a five-star quarterback commitment, Jaden Rashada, and Mauigoa admitted they've been "talking for a while now." Miami moved up to eighth in the 247Sports team rankings, bumping the Vols down to ninth.
Tennessee did land a five-star commitment Monday from IMG Academy, with 2024 tight end and edge-rushing prospect Jonathan Echols providing the Vols a nonbinding pledge. The 6-4, 230-pounder is the No. 30 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle and also visited Tennessee on June 24.
"Knoxville, I'm home!!" Echols posted on Twitter.
Jonathan EcholsVols coach Josh Heupel responded by posting, "Great start to 'Rocky Top 24.'"
Iamaleava would become Tennessee's first five-star signee out of high school since 2019 offensive linemen Darnell Wright, who will be a senior this season for the Vols, and Wanya Morris, who transferred to Oklahoma following the 2020 season and will be a senior this year with the Sooners. The Vols are still in the running for five-star edge rusher Chandavian Bradley of Platte City, Missouri.
The 6-5, 220-pound Bradley announced June 27 that his finalists are South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.