Why Collierville wide receiver Joakim Dodson committed to Tennessee football

Joakim Dodson knew early on Tennessee was the school he wanted to play college football. The Vols were his second Power Five offer just after the Collierville wide receiver finished his sophomore season and they stayed in touch with the now three-star prospect.  

"My relationship with the staff is second to none,” Dodson told The Commercial Appeal after committed to the Vols on Saturday. “We’ve been (working on) this relationship since before they offered me.” 

The 6-foot, 178-pound Dodson was the top wide receiver target for Collierville in 2023, totaling 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns. He helped the Dragons finish 8-4 with a playoff win over Clarksville in the first round of the 6A playoffs. He was named the the Region 8-6A first team, was a Commercial Appeal All-metro football first team selection and named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association 6A all-state team.

“They made me a priority,” said Dodson, the son of former Memphis wide receiver Damien Dodson. “Coach (Josh) Heupel came up here twice in back-to-back months. I’ve just been feeling the love for them and it feels like home every time I go. It was a no-brainer.”

It was even more important for him to represent his home state.  

"Most people think Ole Miss, Arkansas, but everybody loves Tennessee,” Dodson said. “At the end of the day, I’m from Tennessee and it means the world to me to commit to play for my home-state school.” 

Dodson is ranked the No. 546 overall prospect and No. 80 wide receiver in the 2025 class and the No. 15 junior from the state of Tennessee, according to the 247Sports Composite.

He chose the Vols over Missouri, Indiana, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. Missouri was a close option as well with his former quarterback Aidan Glover, who signed in December with the Tigers, was trying to recruit his favorite target to join him.  

"I’ll eventually get to play him but it’s kind of bittersweet with him being my quarterback last year,” Dodson said. “At the end of the day, we both worked for it and I’m proud of both of us.” 

Dodson became Tennessee’s sixth commitment for the 2025 class and the first projected wide receiver.

Dodson is the latest in-state target for Heupel who has already added Sheffield star Radarious Jackson.  

"Heupel’s done a great job bringing Tennessee back where we should be,” Dodson said. “We still have some years to go to try and win that national championship again. That’s the only goal for me. Getting the right guys, getting the best guys from Tennessee.” 

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.