Tennessee Football announced the verbal commitment of four-star tight end Malik Howard to its 2027 recruiting class, a move that adds a highly touted playmaker to the Volunteers' roster. Ranked No. 215 overall and No. 11 among tight ends by 247Sports, Howard pledged his future to the Vols after an official visit that underscored his interest in the program’s offensive vision.
Howard, a 6-foot-5 athlete from Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee, revealed his decision during the campus visit, citing the coaching staff, family ties and the promise of early playing time as decisive factors. In his junior season he recorded 11 touchdowns and 778 receiving yards on 53 receptions, nearly doubling his sophomore numbers of six scores and 389 yards.
A Modern F-TE Projection
247Sports analyst Andrew Ivins described Howard as a modern F-TE projection with excellent hands and body control, noting his ascent from outside the top 250 to the No. 11 spot at his position. Coach Alec Abeln, who has guided eight tight ends to the SEC since 2023, emphasized Howard’s potential to stretch the field and create mismatches in Tennessee’s scheme.
With Miles Kitselman’s eligibility set to expire, the Volunteers are poised to lean on Howard as a primary target in the passing game, while freshman Ethan Davis is expected to see increased snaps next season. The commitment marks the ninth tight end brought to Tennessee by Abeln and signals a continued investment in a position that could define the Vols’ offensive identity in the coming years.