The son of a former Tennessee linebacker is going to Alabama, and it exposes a recruiting weakness for the Vols under Josh Heupel

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2027 four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II, the son of former Tennessee Vols linebacker Kevin Simon, committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday. The Vols were heavily recruiting the younger Simon.

The Tennessee Vols lost a key recruiting battle to start the week.

2027 four-star linebacker Kenneth Simon II committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday afternoon. Kenneth is the son of former Vols linebacker Kevin Simon, who previously served on Josh Heupel’s coaching staff as Tennessee’s director of player development.

Kenneth admitted to On3 that Tennessee was “all he thought about” growing up, but he ultimately chose Alabama over the Volunteers.

“That’s (Tennessee) all I thought about growing up, but you’ve got to go somewhere that puts you in the best position,” said Simon to On3. “I prayed about it a lot, I looked at each school on my list and Alabama was the right one for me. The feeling about Alabama was different than the others.”

Kenneth Simon II choosing Alabama over Tennessee exposes a recruiting weakness under Josh Heupel

There are some folks who have suggested that Heupel and Kevin parting ways after the 2021 season had something to do with Kenneth choosing Alabama over Tennessee.

Kevin, a former NFL scout for 10 seasons, left Tennessee in early 2022 to join Knoxville Catholic’s coaching staff. It seemed like an odd move to make for someone who appeared to be on an upward trajectory, which has led to speculation that maybe there’s some bad blood between Kevin and Heupel.

Maybe that’s the case, maybe not. We don’t know for sure either way. What we do know, though, is that Simon talked positively last fall about the way Heupel was recruiting his son.

“I had a quick exchange with Heupel and told him that I really appreciate the job that (Vols linebackers coach) William Inge and the whole staff are doing,” said Kevin last September. “They’re doing a heck of a job recruiting Ken, so it’s cool. I think some good things are going to happen in Tennessee.”

Once Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks, a coach that Kevin said his son wasn’t going to play for, it seemed to improve the Vols’ standing in Kenneth’s recruitment.

Kevin even said that new Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was doing a good job of recruiting Kenneth.

So what’s the deal? Why did this recruiting battle not go Tennessee’s way?

While speaking with On3 about his decision, Kenneth made it clear that linebacker development was a big part of his decision.

And unfortunately for the Vols, linebacker development hasn’t been a strength at Tennessee the last few years.

There isn’t a single former Tennessee linebacker currently in the NFL (unless Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who is primarily a special teams player, returns for another season).

The Vols, in fact, haven’t had a linebacker drafted since Reeves-Maybin in 2017. And he was the first Vol linebacker drafted since Jerod Mayo in 2008.

(Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’o To’o, a fifth round pick in 2023, spent the first two seasons of his career at Tennessee before transferring to Alabama for his final two seasons.)

Alabama, meanwhile, has nine linebackers currently in the NFL. That includes Justin Jefferson, a fifth round pick in 2026, and Jihaad Campbell, a first round pick in 2025.

Kenneth’s decision may have simply come down to which program he believes can best prepare him for the NFL. If that’s the case, it’s hard to disagree with his decision based on the recent history of Tennessee and Alabama.

Maybe that changes moving forward with Knowles now running the defensive on Rocky Top (there’s a good chance that Arion Carter is drafted next year). But for now, the Vols don’t have any linebacker success stories to share with recruits.

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