Dante McClellan Calls Tennessee a "Very Strong Contender"

2025 four-star linebacker Dante McClellan (Canton, Oh.) cut his recruitment down to eight schools, including the Tennessee Volunteers.

McKinley High School linebacker Dante McClellan has several premium suitors giving chase. The No. 273 prospect in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports' Composite Rankings, totaled 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and four sacks during his junior season. The Vols were in play here, though losing linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary to Michigan may hurt.

That said, Tennessee has already made a big impression on McClellan, enough so that he included them in his top schools. McClellan cut his focus to eight schools on Tuesday: Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Tennessee offered McClellan on August 23 ahead of his junior season. He visited for the Texas A&M game earlier in the season and had strong things to say about the program to On3's Chad Simmons.

"They play SEC football. They are a very strong contender and they are good. (Linebackers) coach (Brian Jean-Mary), he loves me. I’ve talked to (head) coach (Josh) Heupel over the phone. I loved the hospitality at the game. They were nice to me."

2025 4-star LB Dante McClellan during an unofficial visit to Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Dante McClellan)

Tennessee's 2025 Recruiting Class

• George MacIntyre, QB
• Justin Baker, RB
• Joakim Dodson, WR
• Jack VanDorselaer, TE
• Dylan Lewis, CB
• Tyler Redmond, CB

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