Tennessee’s recruiting momentum is really heating up heading into the team’s Orange Carpet Day weekend as one of the program’s top targets has just committed to stay home and play on Rocky Top.

D’Andre Litaker put an end to all the speculation regarding his recruitment as the big lineman from Murfreesboro announced his commitment to Tennessee Tuesday. Litaker will be among the many elite prospects scheduled to attend the Volunteers weekend recruiting event, which is annually one of the biggest put on in the SEC.

The 6-foot-2, 302-pound Litaker rates as a four-star prospect, the No. 23 defensive tackle and the No. 7 overall prospect from the state of Tennessee according to his 247Sports Composite Ratings. The in-state lineman picked the Vols over scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M and Louisville among others.

Litaker made somewhat of a dual announcement of his commitment, releasing this video:


The defensive lineman also added a statement on why he chose the Vols:

Following Litaker’s commitment, Tennessee now has the nation’s No. 7 overall recruiting class for the 2018 recruiting cycle. The Vols now have six commits rated as either a five or four-star recruit: OL Cade Mays, WR Alontae Taylor, QB Adrian Martinez, S Brendon Harris, DL Brant Lawless and now Litaker. The Vols have 13 overall commits for the 2018 recruiting class.

Litaker has been slowed by injuries during his high school career, but his unique combination of both size and athleticism make for an intriguing prospect. Check out his latest high school highlight reel to get an idea of how well he could fit into Bob Shoop’s defense starting in 2018.

Litaker is the second Tennessee commit of the day, as the Vols also landed a pledge from 2019 defensive back Te’Cory Couch.