**Tennessee Football Target Adryan Cole Gives Up on the Team Amids Controversy**
*KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — May 22, 2025*
In a stunning and unexpected development that has sent ripples across the college football landscape, four-star linebacker Adryan Cole, one of Tennessee Football’s top 2025 recruiting targets, has publicly announced that he is cutting ties with the Volunteers amid swirling controversy surrounding the program.
Cole, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound defensive standout from Grayson High School in Georgia, was considered a near lock for Tennessee just weeks ago. Highly touted for his sideline-to-sideline speed, ferocious tackling, and sharp football IQ, Cole had not only made multiple unofficial visits to Knoxville but had also been seen wearing Tennessee gear on social media and at national recruiting camps.
However, the tide turned quickly following the emergence of allegations that have shaken the University of Tennessee’s football program to its core. Several sources report internal turmoil involving assistant coaches, possible recruiting violations, and growing concerns among recruits about a lack of stability within the program. While the university has yet to make an official statement regarding the specifics, the growing smoke has seemingly been enough to push Cole to walk away.
“I’ve decided to re-open my recruitment and am no longer considering Tennessee,” Cole wrote in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday night. “I appreciate the love from the fans and the coaches, but I have to do what’s best for my future. The recent developments have made me uncomfortable moving forward.”
**A Fallout with Far-Reaching Implications**
Cole’s departure from Tennessee’s recruiting board is not just a blow to the Vols’ 2025 class—it’s a symbolic loss that raises critical questions about the direction of the program under head coach Josh Heupel. Once viewed as one of the program’s brightest recruiting cycles in recent memory, the Vols now face growing skepticism from top prospects who were expected to form the foundation of the team’s future.
Multiple recruiting insiders have pointed to Cole’s exit as a potential domino effect that could lead other blue-chip prospects to reconsider their commitments or lean toward rival SEC programs such as Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
“The situation at Tennessee is becoming increasingly murky for these high school athletes,” said Steve Wilkins, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports. “When a leader like Adryan Cole—someone who was practically recruiting others to come with him—backs out this abruptly, it sends a message that something isn’t right behind the scenes.”
**Allegations Behind the Curtain**
While the university and coaching staff have declined to comment directly on the specifics, various media reports have indicated that internal investigations may be underway into “improper recruiting conduct” involving multiple assistant coaches. There is also speculation that a locker room dispute involving current players and coaches during spring practice further exposed cultural cracks within the program.
One anonymous source within the athletic department suggested that the administration has been quietly trying to get ahead of any possible NCAA involvement, but the optics of high-profile recruits distancing themselves may suggest that control is slipping.
**A New Chapter for Cole**
As for Adryan Cole, his recruitment is expected to heat up rapidly once again. Sources say schools like USC, Ohio State, and LSU have already reached out to reestablish or strengthen communication lines. Cole has kept his top schools list open but did hint at favoring “programs that reflect leadership, consistency, and championship-level standards.”
Despite the controversy and disappointment for Tennessee fans, Cole’s decision has been met with respect across social media. Many acknowledged the maturity he showed in stepping back from a potentially toxic environment and prioritizing his development.
**What’s Next for Tennessee?**
With summer visits around the corner and the early signing period just months away, Tennessee will need to act fast to stabilize its class and reassure both current commits and future prospects. Whether that includes staff changes, clearer communication from the athletic department, or more aggressive damage control remains to be seen.
For now, the loss of Adryan Cole is a sobering reminder that perception—and controversy—can change everything in the high-stakes world of college football recruiting.
And for the Volunteers, the road to rebuilding trust with recruits just became much longer.
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