In-state standout Dayon Cooper impressed by Vols during spring practice visit

2027 recruit Dayon Cooper discusses his latest trip to Tennessee and the bond he's building with the coaching staff.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 9:50am

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South Pittsburg (Tenn.) standout athlete Dayon Cooper, a 2027 recruit, visited Tennessee on Tuesday to check out the Volunteers' spring practice. Cooper was impressed by the facilities, the coaching staff, and the way the wide receivers were being developed. He plans to return for an official visit in June and says Tennessee is currently one of his top schools, especially since he's an in-state prospect.

Why it matters

Tennessee is looking to build its 2027 recruiting class and landing an in-state talent like Dayon Cooper would be a big boost. Cooper is a versatile athlete with offers from over a dozen schools, so the Vols will need to continue building a strong relationship to secure his commitment.

The details

During his visit, Cooper was able to watch the Tennessee wide receivers go through their practice routine and was impressed by the coaching he saw from Wide Receivers Coach Kelsey Pope. Cooper said he's been communicating with Pope daily since receiving his offer and feels they are building a strong bond. Pope told Cooper about how he would develop him if he chose to attend Tennessee.

  • Cooper visited Tennessee for spring practice on Tuesday, March 19, 2026.
  • Cooper plans to return to Tennessee for an official visit sometime in June 2026.
  • Prior to visiting Tennessee, Cooper also recently visited Florida State.

The players

Dayon Cooper

A 2027 standout athlete from South Pittsburg, Tennessee who has received over a dozen scholarship offers, including from Tennessee and Florida State.

Kelsey Pope

The wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, who has been building a strong relationship with Dayon Cooper since offering him a scholarship.

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What they’re saying

“Everything, it was beautiful. It was nice watching my position, the wide receivers. They had the routine. They did everything. It was just great. Stadium-wise, it's pretty much the same. But I hadn't really been over here yet. This is my first time being over here, like, seeing the weight room and stuff. It's all beautiful.”

— Dayon Cooper, 2027 Recruit

“He's a good coach. Ever since I got the offer from him, he's just been communicating with me every day, and I feel like we're building a bond. And talking to him in person for the first time, it was great.”

— Dayon Cooper, 2027 Recruit

“He was telling me, like, how he will develop me when I get here, just showing me, like, all the connections that he has with all the other players throughout the years.”

— Dayon Cooper, 2027 Recruit

What’s next

Cooper plans to visit Vanderbilt later this spring, and he says he will return to Tennessee for an official visit sometime in June 2026 after discussing the date with Coach Pope.

The takeaway

Tennessee is making a strong push for in-state 2027 recruit Dayon Cooper, who was impressed by his latest visit to Knoxville. The Vols will need to continue building their relationship with Cooper, who also has interest from other top programs like Florida State, in order to secure his commitment.