Commitment Day Preview: Final Thoughts On Elijah Rushing

2024 five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing comes off the board this afternoon. Where do the Tennessee Volunteers sit?

2024 five-star edge rusher Elijah Rushing (Tucson, Ariz.) announces his collegiate decision this afternoon. The west-coast talent will appear on the 247Sports College Recruiting Show at 2:00 PM EST to decide between Arizona, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Tennessee. Usually, we have a general idea of where prospects are headed before their announcement, but the one certainty in Rushing's recruitment is uncertainty.

The smoke between Rushing and Oregon was mounting in the weeks leading up to his decision. Head coach Dan Lanning made it a priority to get Rushing on campus as many times as possible, and Rushing saw Eugene, Oregon, three times in his junior season alone. The Ducks felt good about their position, but things began to sour on Wednesday afternoon. The in-state Arizona Wildcats began to gain a ton of confidence as Oregon's began to wane. On3 Oregon insider Justin Hopkins even changed his months-long prediction from Oregon to Arizona on Wednesday, causing quite a stir around the recruiting world.

Rushing has been to Arizona's campus five times since the beginning of his junior season, as the university is just five minutes away from Rushing's high school, Salpointe Catholic. The Wildcats also have Rushing's older brother, Cruz Rushing, on scholarship, a major selling point. Family and proximity are two important things to every recruit, not to mention he's their No. 1 target this recruiting cycle.

2024 EDGE Elijah Rushing with Tennessee HC Josh Heupel on Rushing's official visit

While Arizona has all these things working in its favor, Tennessee is more in this than people are accounting for. The Vols impressed Rushing's family on his official visit, and there is intrigue about what playing for defensive line coach Rodney Garner could do for Rushing's NFL future. Garner routinely sends defensive linemen into the NFL, and Rushing has the tools to make it there. He measures 6-5 and 250 pounds with some of the best athleticism and bend in the 2024 class.

The Vols are still communicating with Rushing and are taking swings. I wouldn't rule them out here, but I expect his initial inclination is to stay on the west coast. His recruitment is far from over, as Tennessee will keep taking swings up until early national signing day regardless of his decision.

Volunteer Country Prediction: Arizona

Tennessee's 2024 Recruiting Class

• Jake Merklinger, QB
• Peyton Lewis, RB
• Braylon Staley, WR
• Jonathan Echols, TE
• Gage Ginther, OL
• Jesse Perry, OG
• Max Anderson, OG
• Kellen Lindstrom, DL
• Carson Gentle, DL
• Jeremias Heard, DL
• Jordan Burns, ILB
• Kaleb Beasley, CB
• Boo Carter, S
• Edrees Farooq, S
• Marcus Goree, S

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