The commitment of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Charles House, a four-star defensive lineman, gave eTennesse football a significant boost on the recruiting trail last week. The 300-pound, 6-foot-3 defensive lineman picked the Vols over Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia, their SEC rivals.
On Monday, Josh Heupel and the Vols announced the addition of Douglas Utu, a four-star interior offensive lineman of the highest caliber. The Nevadan athlete from Las Vegas chose the Vols over national programs from Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington
The Bishop Gorman High School product, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound interior lineman, is ranked No. 2 in Nevada, No. 3 among interior offensive lineman, and No. 53 overall in the 2025 recruiting class by On3 Sports.
Charles Power, the Director of Scouting and Rankings at On3, described Utu as “a standout on the offensive line at powerhouse Bishop Gorman for several seasons. Despite projecting inside long-term, Utu has worked at tackle for Gorman initially. So he’s polished and experienced in pass protection.
In addition, considering the coaching and competitive football he has played up to this point, he is a prospect with a higher floor coming into college. He is also physically developed. Utu is a capable athlete who can fill a variety of positions on the line when necessary.
Additionally, if they all stick together, he is the third offensive lineman to join what has the potential to be an exceptional offensive line class. In the 2025 class, Utu joins Nic Moore and Antoni Ogumoro. Heupel has prioritized the addition of elite players to the trenches on both sides of the ball.
With Utu’s pledge, Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting class now ranks No. 12 in the country, featuring seven three-stars, six four-stars, and one five-star prospect. At the moment, the Vols lead SEC teams Texas, Ole Miss, and Missouri as well as Michigan and Penn State.
