Tennessee football lands Jonathan Echols, 5-star edge rusher from IMG Academy

Five-star edge rusher Jonathan Echols, one of the most coveted recruits in the 2024 class, committed to Tennessee Monday.

With two high school seasons remaining, he chose the Vols over Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Miami and several other schools.

Echols, a 6-foot-4, 230-pounder, is ranked the No. 4 edge rusher and No. 30 overall prospect in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite. His decision came the day his teammate Francis Mauigoa, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2023 class, picked Miami over the Vols.

Last season, Echols played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive end at Heard County High in Franklin, Georgia, and then transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Notably, Brian Niedermeyer, the former Vols assistant who was fired by UT in January 2021 for alleged NCAA recruiting violations under Jeremy Pruitt, is the defensive coordinator at IMG Academy. Under coach Josh Heupel, the Vols have recruited multiple players from IMG Academy, a national powerhouse.

Commitments are non-binding. But this latest pledge continues UT’s hot streak in recruiting under Heupel.

In the 2023 class, five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava and four four-star prospects are committed to the Vols. Echols is the first commitment in UT’s 2024 class.

Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jonathan Echols, 5-star edge rusher from IMG Academy, picks Tennessee