Josh Heupel’s Tennessee program has just landed his first commitment of the 2022 recruiting cycle.

The pledge comes from an in-state prospect, which is something Heupel has stated will be a core building block of Tennessee’s roster during his leadership, as Murfreesboro native Elijah Herring has made the decision to become a Vol.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Herring plays for Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro and is rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 49 outside linebacker in the country and Tennessee’s No. 29 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The Murfreesboro native picked the Vols over scholarship offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Duke, Coastal Carolina, and Michigan, among others.

To get an idea of what he brings to Tennessee’s defense, check out Herring’s latest highlight video.