Tennessee Football Impact Analysis: Jaedon Harmon

Four-star inside linebacker Jaedon Harmon (Rome, Georgia) transferred from the Alabama Crimson Tide to the Tennessee Volunteers in 2025.

Rome High School inside linebacker Jaedon Harmon was signed for the Alabama Crimson Tide since the beginning of the summer; the Georgia native promised the new head coach Kalen DeBoer and Co. after the Volunteers lost their previous linebacker coach to the Michigan Wolverines.

However, the No. 168 candidate in the On3 industry rankings always maintained a relationship with Tennessee, and after growing closer with the linebackers' substitute coach William Ingeannounced his commitment to the University of Tennessee. Harmon is Tennessee's 23rd signing in the 2025 cycle, catapulting them to 6th place in the team rankings.

Harmon recorded 80 tackles, eight for loss, five sacks and one interception in his junior season. The Vols were eager to add him to their linebacker class, and we watched the video to see why they chose Harmon.

Outlook: Jaedon Harmon

Expected position: Centre-back

Vital signs: 6-1 and 205 pounds

School: Rome High School (Rome, Georgia)

Frame: Harmon weighs a sturdy 205 pounds and will likely weigh 215 in his final season. Rome consistently produces top Power 4 talent each cycle, meaning they know how to properly develop each position group before sending them to the college ranks. He has a sturdy lower half that generates plenty of torque when Harmon puts his foot in the ground to make a play, and he still has room to reach the 225-pound mark that many evaluators covet for the inside linebacker position.

Athletics: As you'll see in this evaluation, Harmon is a box-checker. I don't think he can accomplish anything at the college level and he's definitely athletic enough to compete in the SEC. Harmon is at his best when he can slide downhill and accelerate proportionally to the ball. He has strong lateral mobility and makes a lot of sideline-to-sideline plays, showing impressive range in his junior records.

Instincts: College coaches often compare linebackers to chasers – see the ball, go for it. Of course, there's a lot more detail to this than that simplicity, but it still rings true. Harmon's first instinct is to always attack the ball as quickly and accurately as possible. If he sees a lane to the ball carrier that he can read confidently, he makes the right play every time. Before coming to the SEC, he spent a lot of time in Rome's system, a strong defensive unit.

Polishing: Harmon will likely spend some time on special teams and as a rotational linebacker, but he's a player who could make an impact early in his career. After his freshman season at the University of Tennessee, he'll be close to what they want physically, mentally and athletically.

Conclusion: I see many parallels between Harmon and the 2023 Tennessee Linebacker Signee Jeremiah Telander. Two successful players will begin their careers in Volunteer uniforms without much hype, but like Telander, Harmon knows how to fit into a successful program. Telander was an impact player in his first season and will play a bigger role this year – you could see more of the same from Harmon.

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