{
  "id": 1461057,
  "title": "Why Tennessee football, Neyland Stadium stood out to Whites Creek WR De'Aries Holland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/why-tennessee-football-neyland-stadium-stood-out-to-whites-creek-wr",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T10:02:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-tennessee-football-neyland-stadium-100209243.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "De Aries Holland, a junior wide receiver at Whites Creek High School, had one thing in mind when considering college football programs: Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. The 28th-ranked recruit in the state and 96th nationally in wide receiver prospects has received offers from several major programs, including Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, and Nebraska.\n\nHolland's first in-person visit to Tennessee came during a June 2025 camp, where he competed against other recruits in individual and one-on-one drills. He was particularly impressed by the time wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope spent with him, communicating about different route options and wanting him to line up inside and outside. After camp, Holland felt confident in the Vols' interest in him and expected an offer to arrive.\n\nGrowing up near Madison, Tennessee, Holland's football roots trace back to Old Hickory and Bordeaux, before joining Nashville's 7-on-7 circuit. This league introduced him to other players who later coached at Tennessee, such as former UT defensive back Boo Carter and current wide receiver Tyreek King. Holland looks up to these players and tries to incorporate their skills into his own game.\n\nUpon arriving in Knoxville, Holland was struck by how many fans wore UT gear, indicating the school's strong presence in the city. Culturally, Holland values how a program and its community treat recruits, with Virginia Tech being a notable example of a school that made him feel welcomed by investing time in getting to know him personally.\n\nHolland has already put up impressive numbers for Whites Creek, catching 39 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore, while adding 276 rushing yards for three touchdowns. He aims to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and return Whites Creek to postseason contention. With his recruiting stock likely to rise, Holland's social media algorithm may also change in the coming months.",
  "summary": "Whites Creek junior De'Aries Holland holds several Power 4 offers but explained whey Tennessee football stood out.",
  "key_points": [
    "De Aries Holland, junior wide receiver, chose Tennessee for Neyland Stadium.",
    "Visited Tennessee during June 2025 camp, impressed by coach Kelsey Pope.",
    "Grew up near Madison, TN; influenced by UT alumni coaches."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}