One of the best universities vying for a highly sought-after tight-end target is Tennessee. Da’Saahn Brame, a four-star tight end in the class of 2025 from Derby (Kan.) High School, which is located just outside of Wichita, Kansas, posted on social media on Saturday to reveal his top eight college choices. The Vols were among the SEC teams that he preferred, along with a few other teams.
The front-runners for the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Brame—who is ranked among the top 100 prospects in the country by 247Sports—also included Oregon, Florida, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Michigan. More than thirty colleges have offered him scholarships, including the eight teams that are vying for his services.
Brame is closely related to Kansas State. Da’Von Brame, his father, was a linebacker for Kansas State. From 1996 to 2000, his mother, Nicky Ramage-Brame, was a basketball player for the Wildcats.
Early in March, Tennessee extended an SEC scholarship offer to the younger Brame, who has since made two visits to the Vols. He visited Knoxville for the first time in June, and on October 14 he came back to watch Tennessee play Texas A&M at home.
On November 4, he traveled to Oregon to watch the Ducks play the Californians. On September 2, Kansas State played Southeast Missouri State in front of him.
According to Brame’s July interview with Ryan Wallace of 247Sports, Tennessee was among the select few schools that had been actively recruiting him.
At the time, he stated, “I’d probably say Oklahoma, Tennessee, and K-State.” “Those are the ones that most likely have the strongest connections. The fact that they were among my initial proposals is also rather pleasant. That’s really important to me, and I have a lot of respect for it.”
In his junior year at Derby, Brame caught 46 passes for 942 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brame “put together some very strong tape this fall,” according to 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins, who also noted that Brame “lines up in the slot and attached” in Derby’s offense, in a letter from last month.
“Brame has caught 39 passes for 807 yards and 12 touchdowns on 20.7 yards per reception in Derby’s first 11 contests,” Ivins reported at the time. “Brame can move quickly upfield and is strong at the catch and point. At the top of his route, he can create separation by stacking defenders. Although he is still honing his blocking technique, he is more than willing to experiment.
“This past spring, Brame’s functional athleticism was confirmed at 6-foot-5 and 220-pounds. Impressive combine testing, especially in the lateral twitch category, supports this.” The long-term ceiling’s arrow is pointing upward.
In July, Brame informed Wallace that he hoped to choose a college prior to the commencement of his senior year.
“I want my recruitment done before senior year,” Brame responded. “I’ll do maybe a top 10 to a top 5 and then hope to be committed sometime in June or July next year.”
