Tee Hodge and the Maryville Rebels undergo spring football practice in Maryville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (Photo by Danny Parker)
The local commits just keep turning up orange lately.
Tee Hodge, a powerful senior running back from Maryville High School, announced his verbal commitment to Tennessee on Friday afternoon.
The Vols made Hodge’s top 9 schools when he posted them on June 16 on Twitter. Those nine schools included: Tennessee, Oregon, Purdue, Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State, Arkansas, Virginia Tech and Ole Miss.
Tennessee offered Hodge back in mid-June of 2018.
He battled injuries as a junior and eventually missed the 6A state semifinal at Oakland after suffering a broken leg in the quarterfinal win over Farragut. He wound up rushing for 19 touchdowns and 792 yards.
This offseason, Hodge has bulked up to 230 pounds to add more force to his already punishing running style. He and the Maryville staff said Hodge has maintained his speed while restructuring his physique.
Hodge’s commitment means the Vols have added three local products in a matter of a week’s time. Catholic senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays committed last Friday. Former Webb product Elijah Howard, a rising junior now at Baylor School in Chattanooga, committed earlier this week on Tuesday.