Four-star pass rusher Najee Story includes Tennessee in his top five

Tennessee is the lone representative from the south in pass rusher Najee Story’s top five schools. The four-star edge prospect out of Ohio named Tennessee to his top schools — the only school not in the Big Ten.

Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Northwestern were the other four schools.

Tennessee has been in the market for pass rushers in this 2021 cycle, but hasn’t been able to land one just yet after pulling in a strong 2020 group.

Story is the 282nd ranked player in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He’s the 9th ranked player in the state of Ohio, coming out of Solon (Cleveland). At 6-4, 235 pounds, Story has the prototypical length that programs look for in edge rushers.

The Ohio prospect is up to nearly 20 offers, including ones from Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan. Ohio State has been the perceived favorite for Story, but those predictions have become cloudier in recent weeks.

Despite landing in his top five, Tennessee has yet to get Story on campus for a visit. That’s something that the coaching staff will be looking to change once the recruiting restriction is lifted after May.

Tennessee will start a bit of a new era on the edges this season after outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph moved on to the NFL, along with pass rusher Darrell Taylor. Former support staffer Shelton Felton will take over for Rumph. Kivon Bennett and Deandre Johnson are likely the next guys up, but freshmen Tyler Baron and Morven Joseph will be in the picture as well.