Why Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel was recruiting in Murfreesboro during off week

Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel was at Siegel High School on Oct. 2 along with Vols offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, to see Siegel's 6-foot-7, 317-pound offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, according to Siegel athletics director Greg Wyant.

Uwaifo is a four-star standout ranked as the state's No. 6 prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports Composite.

"I didn't get a chance to talk with coach Heupel, but I talked with coach Elarbee," Wyant said. "Anytime you get an SEC school or any power school to come to your high school, that's a big deal. It's great for the school. It's great for the kids and it showcases our talent."

A three-year starter for the Stars, Uwaifo holds offers from Auburn, Missouri, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Purdue and Memphis along with Tennessee.

"Princeton is excited about being recruited by Tennessee and the rest of the schools that have shown interest," Wyant said. "He's a big focus for a lot of big time schools."

With Rutherford County Schools on fall break beginning Oct. 6, most of its football teams scheduled Week 7 games for Oct. 2. Siegel hosts Clarksville in a non-region matchup. Tennessee's next game is Oct. 11 in a home game against Arkansas.

Wyant was positive Heupel and Elarbee would take advantage of their trip in Murfreesboro with the Vols enjoying an off week. Oakland's four-star wide receiver Joel Wyatt committed to the Vols in late July.

Heupel was back in the Nashville area less than a month after his trip to Brentwood Academy on Sept. 5 when the Eagles were scheduled to play Baylor. That game, however, was canceled because of weather but Baylor boasts a pair of Tennessee commitments in offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda and defensive back Jamyan Theodore.

Reach The Tennessean's high school sports editor, George Robinson, at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports. 

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Tennessee football's Josh Heupel visits Siegel, Princeton Uwaifo