​Graham Simpson, a 2028 four-star quarterback recruit and the younger brother of former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, has been on the radar for major programs. Ty Simpson, who earned a first-round NFL draft pick with the Los Angeles Rams this past spring, has helped shine a spotlight on his younger brother’s potential as a rising quarterback in the 2028 class. Late in 2023, Simpson told On3 that he hoped to secure an offer from the Tennessee Volunteers, signaling early interest from a prominent SEC program.
According to 247Sports, Graham Simpson sits as the No. 15 quarterback in the 2028 class and ranks the No. 14 player in the state of Tennessee. Despite Tennessee extending an offer in January, that invitation did not automatically translate into a full-blown commitment from the Vols. In college football recruiting, receiving an offer can be a starting point rather than a guarantee that a coaching staff will aggressively pursue a target. The landscape for the top quarterbacks in the 2028 cycle is already shifting, with many programs preparing to finalize their rosters as summer approaches and spots begin to fill.
As the 2028 quarterbacks move toward decision time, it’s clear that Tennessee is prioritizing other targets. The Vols are not presently among Simpson’s top schools, with a cluster of programs leading the charge in his recruitment. Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt have all been identified as front-runners in the running for Simpson’s commitment, creating a competitive field for the top quarterback prospect from the region. Tennessee’s focus appears to be diverted toward different targets in the 2028 class, shifting away from Simpson as a primary target.
In the wake of this shift, Vols coach Josh Heupel and the Tennessee staff have zeroed in on Kaden Craft as their leading quarterback target for the 2028 class. Craft, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound signal-caller from Mooresville, North Carolina, has drawn strong attention from Tennessee. 247Sports ranks Craft as the No. 8 quarterback nationally and the No. 4 player in North Carolina, underscoring his rising profile within the class. Austin Price of VolQuest underscored this momentum in June, noting that Craft had visit momentum after the big orange barbecue and a subsequent camp. Price stated, “Kaden [Craft] feels like Tennessee’s guy,” highlighting the perception that Craft could be the quarterback for whom the Vols pivot in 2028.
While Tennessee did show some interest in Graham Simpson, the program’s guidance and recruitment strategy appear to be moving in a different direction. Simpson remains a high-potential quarterback with strong family ties to a recent NFL first-round pick, which adds to the intrigue surrounding his development and future at the college level. The dynamic between Simpson’s talent and the Vols’ current board showcases the evolving nature of college football recruiting, where offers, fit, and long-term plans all influence a program’s pursuit of a quarterback for the next wave.
This article originally appeared on A to Z Sports. For the full story and ongoing updates on the Tennessee Vols and the 2028 quarterback landscape, you can read more at A to Z Sports with additional context and analysis on how the Vols are prioritizing Craft over Simpson in the 2028 quarterback race. The evolving recruiting narrative for Graham Simpson, Ty Simpson’s younger brother, continues to capture attention as national programs monitor his progress and weigh their options for the upcoming cycle.