Elite 5-Star Recruit Names Top School After Official Visit
As the college football offseason continues to roll on, many of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class are making big decisions, including offensive tackle Darius Gray out of Richmond, Virginia.
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He's one player that many of the top programs are pursuing, and on Saturday, he had an official visit with the Tennessee Volunteers, marking the third time the program hosted him.
Now, in an article by On3's Steve Wiltfong, it's clear the Volunteers have made a very strong impression, as Gray revealed where the SEC powerhouse sits in the recruiting process.
'They stand at the top of my board,' Gray said. 'What makes it special is the people in that building!'
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel.Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Of course, this is great news for Tennessee and head coach Josh Heupel, as On3 Industry Rankings list Gray as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 interior offensive lineman, the No. 2 player in Virginia and the No. 23 player in the nation.
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However, that was also far from his first official visit, as he's already been hosted by Virginia Tech (April 11), Virginia (April 25), Georgia (May 17) and Clemson (May 30).
To make things even more competitive, he also has more visits scheduled with Auburn (June 10), Ohio State (June 11), LSU (June 14), Penn State (June 17) and South Carolina (June 20), so Gray certainly has many options.
There's no doubt Tennessee would love to come out on top, though, as Gray could be a huge addition to its 2026 recruiting class, which holds eight commitments, ranking No. 4 in the SEC and No. 11 in the nation, per On3.
Related: Nation's No. 1 QB Sends Clear Message After Texas Visit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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