Tennessee target JaVonta Payton decommits from Ole Miss

After a summer offer and a visit to Knoxville last weekend, JaVonta Payton has decommitted from Ole Miss. The 2019 JUCO receiver made his announcement last night with a note on Twitter.

“I have made the difficult decision to reopen my recruitment and will continue to explore all of my options,” Payton said in the note. The timing of this seems significant, coming just two days after visiting the Vols unofficially.

Originally a top mid-state prospect, Tennessee was in the running late for Payton at the end of the 2017 recruiting cycle. Payton eventually chose Ole Miss, but never played for the Rebels. He landed at Northwest Mississippi in the JUCO ranks.

Payton is now a three-star JUCO prospect. The 6-2, 182 pound receiver is the third ranked receiver in the junior college ranks, checking in a 29th overall, according to 247 Sports.

Tennessee still needs some help at receiver, bringing in only three-star Cedric Tillman in last year’s class. Four-star Ramel Keyton is the only receiver in Tennessee’s 2019 class to this point.