Elite 4-star recruit makes strong statement after committing to Tennessee that Vols fans will love

The Tennessee Vols made a huge addition on Saturday by landing a commitment from 2025 four-star defensive back Lagonza Hayward.

Hayward, 6-foot-1/200 lbs from Lyons, GA, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 6 safety in the nation and the No. 11 player in the state of Georgia. He's also rated as the No. 82 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.

The talented defensive back committed to the Vols over Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Tennessee was long-viewed as the favorite for Hayward, despite late pushes by Georgia and South Carolina that gave the four-star recruit plenty to "think about".

Hayward's relationship with Tennessee (current players, commits, and coaches), however, was too much for those programs to overcome.

After committing to the Vols on Saturday, Hayward told On3 that Tennessee will end the 2025 recruiting cycle with a top five class.

“When all is said and done, we will have a top five recruiting class,” said Hayward . “We going to get a couple of flips, we are going to sign some top targets and we are all working on David Sanders, Jr. When this class is done, it will be one of the best in the nation.”

Sanders is Tennessee's biggest remaining recruiting target. Nebraska is making a late run at the five-star offensive lineman from Charlotte, but it's the Vols that have been the most consistent presence in this recruiting battle.

Tennessee is also hoping to flip four-star tight end Da'Saahn Brame from Oregon and four-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte from Georgia.

The Vols currently have the No. 8 recruiting class in the nation. Landing Sanders and flipping Brame and Perlotte could easily vault Tennessee into the top five. And the Vols are still in the mix for several other highly touted recruits.

It's been a slow burn for Tennessee's 2025 recruiting class, but it certainly looks like the Vols are about to sign one of the top classes in the nation.

Related: Former Tennessee HC Butch Jones really does not want you to forget that he was an analyst under Nick Saban at Alabama