Oak Ridge running back Kendall Jackson has Tennessee among top three schools

Oak Ridge running back Kendall Jackson announced on Twitter that he will sign with : Tennessee, Memphis or Kentucky on Feb. 2. 

The three-star running back narrowed down his choices from 18 offers, including six from Power Five schools. Tennessee was among Jackson's first offers in June 2020, and he was offered by Memphis and Kentucky in March 2021.

"I'm looking for a school with that great family feeling to it," Jackson said after the Commercial Bank Rivalry Showcase, an all-star game highlighting some of the best seniors in the Knoxville area. "I want to feel like I'm at home."

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During the 2021 season, Jackson rushed for 443 yards and six touchdowns, and he also recorded 22 tackles, a sack and a 52-yard interception return in seven games at linebacker. 

Tennessee has three running backs in the transfer portal. Two running backs — four-star Justin Williams and three-star Dylan Sampson — signed with the Vols during the early period. Memphis signed just one running back, three-star Sutton Smith, and Kentucky did not add any. 

Tennessee has yet to sign any athletes from the Knoxville area to its 2022 class after losing five-star defensive lineman Walter Nolen to Texas A&M. Jackson and Knoxville Catholic's Tommy Winton, a three-star athlete, are the only unsigned area athletes with offers from the Vols.

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.