Tennessee among top contenders for highly ranked tight-end target
After visiting Tennessee twice this year, one of the nation’s top tight ends in the 2025 class released a list of favorites that includes the Vols
Tennessee is one of the top schools in the running for a highly ranked tight-end target. Four-star Class of 2025 tight end Da’Saahn Brame of Derby (Kan.) High School, just outside Wichita, Kan., announced his top eight college choices Saturday in posts on his social-media accounts, and the Vols joined a few other SEC teams on his list of favorites.
Oregon, Florida, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan also made the group of front-runners for the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Brame, who’s a top-100 prospect nationally in 247Sports’ rankings. He has received scholarship offers from more than 30 schools, including the eight teams in the running for him
Brame has a strong family ties to Kansas State. His father, Da’Von Brame, is a former Kansas State linebacker. His mother, Nicky Ramage-Brame, also played basketball for the Wildcats in 1996-2000.
Tennessee gave the younger Brame his first SEC scholarship offer in early March, and he has visited the Vols twice since then. He made his first trip to Knoxville in June, and he returned Oct. 14 to attend Tennessee’s home game against Texas A&M.
He also went to Oregon on Nov. 4 for the Ducks’ game against California. Kansas State hosted him for its season opener Sept. 2 against Southeast Missouri State.
In July, Brame told 247Sports’ Ryan Wallace that Tennessee was one of a few programs that had been recruiting him hardest.
“I’d probably say Oklahoma, Tennessee and K-State,” he said at the time. “Those are the ones that have probably connected the most. It’s kind of nice that they were a couple of my first offers, too. I have a lot of respect for that, and it’s definitely a big deal to me.”
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Brame caught 46 passes for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns during his junior season at Derby. Last month, 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote that Brame “put together some very strong tape this fall,” pointing out that Brame “lines up in the slot and attached” in Derby’s offense.
“Brame has caught 39 passes for 807 yards and 12 touchdowns on 20.7 yards per reception in Derby’s first 11 contests,” Ivins wrote at the time. “Brame is strong at the catch and point and can get upfield in a hurry. He can stack defenders and create separation at the top of his route. Still developing technique in the blocking department, but is more than willing to mix it up.
“Verified in the 6-foot-5, 220-pound neighborhood this past spring, Brame’s functional athleticism is supported by impressive combine testing, particularly in the lateral twitch category. The arrow points up on his long-term ceiling.”
In July, Brame told Wallace that he was hoping to decide on a college before the start of his senior season.
“I want my recruitment done before senior year,” Brame said. “I’ll do maybe a top 10 to a top 5 and then hope to be committed sometime in June or July next year.”
