Tennessee doesn’t play Virginia Tech until they square off in the Battle at Bristol on Sept. 10, but the Vols scored a big win over the Hokies on the recruiting trail on Friday.

Tennessee landed a verbal commitment from Eric Crosby, the No. 6 defensive tackle in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. The Virginia Beach native was choosing between the two schools before making his decision at a ceremony at Ocean Lakes High School.

The 6-foot-1, 285-pounder unofficially visited Blacksburg earlier this month but he’s made his decision to go to Knoxville.

Crosby is the seventh pledge for Butch Jones and the Vols in the 2017 cycle and the first defensive lineman.