Coveted DL Darrion Smith details return visit to Tennessee

2025 St. Frances Academy (Md.) defensive lineman Darrion Smith returned to Tennessee on Saturday for the Vols ‘Big Orange Kickoff’. Following the outing, Smith broke down the visit with Volquest.

“I just wanted to take an actual visit before our season starts because I will be locking in at that point and won’t be taking too many more visits,” Smith said of why he decided to return to Tennessee.

Not much has changed on the recruiting front for Smith since he was last in town. He remains focused on Ohio State and Tennessee.

Those are still the top two,” Smith said of this.

On Saturday, he was able to see a different side of the Tennessee program.

‘”It was more family-oriented stuff and less football,” Smith said of what he saw during Saturday’s visit. “It was more getting to know the coaches and the culture and stuff.”

The pitch from Tennessee was simple, but Smith says he is still working through the process.

“They just want me to commit, but I am still getting to know the coaches more,” Smith said of what the pitch was from the Tennessee coaches.

Smith has built strong relationships with Rodney Garner and Robert Ayers during the process.

“He is a great guy, and he has been to the league,” Smith said of what stands out about Ayers. “He has been where I am now, so I can pick his brain a little.”

“He has been doing this since before I was thought of,” Smith said of Garner. “He is one of the GOATs. It definitely is (something that appeals about Tennessee).”

This was the final visit Smith plans to take ahead of his senior season, and he hopes to make a decision ahead of the start of his senior campaign.

“I am probably going to announce before the season or right at the beginning,” he said of this. “I will probably take my OVs during the season.”

Smith says he does not yet have a choice made, and he plans to tkae more time to sit down with his family and decide.

I am still going to do a little more talking with my family, and then figure out where I want to go from there,” Smith said. “It is more so looking at less football and stuff on the school side. Life outside of football.”

The one thing that stands out about Tennessee is the people around Josh Heupel’s program.

“I like how all of the coaches are family-oriented people and they are player coaches and care about their players,” Smith said of this.

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