First offensive lineman added by the Vols to their 2025 recruiting class
Antoni Kade Ogumoro committed on Tuesday night, making Tennessee football’s 2025 class the first to include an offensive linemen. This information was first reported by On3, in my opinion.
Ogumoro, who is described as 6-4 and 230 pounds, is the first of about 4-5 OL that the staff is hoping to grab this cycle. He is currently ranked as the ninth-best player in his native state of Oklahoma and is considered a three-star prospect for interior offensive line play. He moved to Oklahoma last November after playing high school ball in North Carolina.
Offers from several universities are included on 247, including those from Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma, TCU, North Carolina, and NC State. According to Ryan Callahan’s essay on the pledge, he visited the Tar Heels three times, including as recently as April. However, he said that in the end, it was a Tennessee vs. Oklahoma decision, with the good guys winning.
According to 247’s recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks, Ogumoro seems like a good possibility. He even suggests that Ogumoro might be able to handle a more versatile role in the future, which is something we know this staff loves.
“Physically, it looks the part on tape, but the size is unverified,” Brooks stated. “Strong lower-body drive train and big base that fuel run-game strength.” Can punch more consistently, yet shows signs of having heavy hands. Pulls and climbs with a functional athleticism that is encouraging. Possess the ability to propel oneself to the next level. Engages hips when interacting and routinely outpaces high school goals. athlete that plays multiple sports and has a limited amount of throws experience (shot put, discus). has obtained important two-way snaps as well. can enhance bodily control and balance. Plays out over his feet at times. Due to his experience as a tackle and his mauler-like field mentality, which projects especially well to guard, he may offer roster flexibility. P4-caliber O-lineman with a strong pad background, a desired multi-sport background, and a two-way game who may have some hidden long-term potential.
The huge man plays both inside and outside of the line, smashing opponents before going to the second level and driving a back-seven defender downfield with the ease of a man pushing a broom at a warehouse. His tape on Hudl seems encouraging. However, I’m not a coach, and I most definitely lack the qualifications to provide any meaningful advice or criticism. If any of you have experience with basic or advanced evaluations, please share your thoughts in the comments. Although he started playing football during his sophomore year in high school and moved to the offensive line last season, he has been a hoops player for the majority of his life, which may account for part of his athletic appearance on film. Oh, and he competes for the track and field team in the shot throw and discus events.
Ogumoro received his first SEC offer from Tennessee in early November of last year, and it appears that the Vols have been the team to beat ever since. Early in February, he came for his junior day, and shortly after, Ryan Callahan of 247 had some positive things to say about the visit in an interview.
“They’re unquestionably at the top right now—like, (No.) 1 right now,” stated Ogumoro, who on November 12 earned a scholarship offer from Tennessee and currently has offers from at least 13 other universities. Before the visit, they were essentially that way; it was only that they were communicating with each other over the phone and receiving that sense.
However, they truly put the cherry on top when they arrived and realized, “Oh, yeah, these guys are for real.”
It seems that UT’s offensive line coach Glen Elarbee visited Ogumoro in Oklahoma on Wednesday, knowing that the lineman had set today as his decision date. That last visit probably sealed the deal.
While there is still more Tennessee needs to accomplish in terms of recruiting OL prospects, this appears to be a strong, high-ceiling foundation. The Vols are now in a strong position with a number of players, but we’ll see how things work out: David Sanders is the second-best player in the nation overall, however some believe UT is gaining ground. In April, Sanders visited Utah two weekends in a row: the weekend before the Orange and White Game and the weekend after the game. There are rumors that he might make one more trip this weekend before beginning his official visits; Jaelyne Matthews (all six of her 247 crystal-ball predictions have Tennessee winning); Dontrell Glover; Mal Waldrep (who is reportedly currently in the area on an official visit); and other uncommitted, intrigued, and/or inclined toward the Vols.
We’re hoping for more positive news in the coming months, but the recruitment front will be busy for the next few months.
