Following his weekend visit with the Vols, an accomplished defensive lineman from a Power Five school committed to Tennessee on Sunday.
When Jaxson Moi went to Tennessee this past weekend for an official visit with the Vols, he had no idea what to anticipate. He wasn’t sure if it would be the best place for him to finish his college education because he had never been there.
By the conclusion of his weekend in Knoxville, however, the Stanford defensive lineman had a different impression. With his announcement on Sunday afternoon, he committed to Tennessee, providing the Vols with two more seasons of eligibility and an experienced defensive lineman.
Moi, a 303-pound, 6-foot-2 player, chose Tennessee over Washington. This season, he was a sophomore, and he still has three seasons left to play.
“I think it really just checked all my boxes,” he told GoVols247 before publicly announcing his decision. “I could go to a place where football, it’s almost like a religion here, and people really support their players and they really have tons of love for the program.
“And then, coaching-wise, it’s a great fit. I know I’m going to be cared about, not just as a football player, but the development of my character and just well-being, as well. The resume of (defensive line) coach (Rodney) Garner and the players that he’s produced, as well as (defensive coordinator Tim) Banks and (head) coach (Josh) Heupel having the program on a steady incline.
“I’m just so excited to be a part of it and try to bring a championship back to Tennessee.”
Moi, a former standout at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, appeared in all 12 of Stanford’s games in 2023 and made seven starts. He was in the starting lineup for the Cardinal’s final six games of the season.
He totaled 15 tackles at the end of the season, one pass breakup, a tackle for loss, and a half-sack. He was also given credit for two quarterback hurries. Pro Football Focus rated him as Stanford’s second-best defensive tackle for the 2023 campaign.
After registering for the NCAA transfer portal on December 31, Moi traveled to Arizona for an official visit earlier this month. He then landed in Washington for an official visit with the Huskies, only to discover that former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer had gone for Alabama. However, he said that prior to spending this weekend in Knoxville with his family, he wasn’t sure if he belonged at Tennessee.
“I had a lot of anxiety before my visit,” Moi admitted. “I wasn’t sure how I would blend in. I was wondering if I would enjoy being outside. I mean, after going, I realized how much Southern culture resembles Polynesian culture. Everyone is incredibly hospitable.
It really is like a family. It feels like a big, old family, not to sound too corny.
“Excited to call Tennessee home,” he declared. If everything goes according to plan, he plans to return to Knoxville on Wednesday to resume spring-semester coursework and officially join the Vols.
“I believe it was obvious where I was meant to be, especially after the coaching changes (at Arizona and Washington) and after coming up here and really experiencing it,” Moi stated.
It didn’t hurt, according to Moi, that Tennessee also features two other players with Polynesian ancestry: senior linebacker Keenan Pili and freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star prospect from Warren High School in Downey, California.
Moi referred to Vols recruiting analyst Aaron Amaama as “Coach ‘Dogg,’ the recruiter,” and stated, “I met Keenan Pili and also, I didn’t meet (Iamaleava).” Another major benefit of my commitment to this place was knowing that I have those guys nearby in case I ever need to escape daily life and feel at home.
“But I was excited. I wanted to kind of go on my own path and start something new. You don’t see too many Polys out here, other than Keenan and Nico, obviously, coming out to the SEC, so I just think it’s pretty cool — and try to get a Poly pipeline from the West Coast to Tennessee.”
Tennessee’s coaches, led by Heupel and Garner, made Moi feel right at home, too. Moi said he was impressed by “how genuine” Heupel was.
“You could tell he wasn’t putting on a front,” Moi said of Heupel. “You could tell he truly cares about his players, that he’s really a players’ coach, and a really personable person. Just really trying to get to know you on a deeper level.
It was truly amazing to meet Coach G and learn about his methodology for producing excellent defensive lineman. I’m aware that it will require a lot of work, and he will be harsh with his players. However, he will adore them and rejoice in their accomplishments with equal fervor.
At defensive tackle, Tennessee has a few seasoned veterans back, starting with Omari Thomas, a senior, and Omarr Norman-Lott, a junior this year. Moi stated that he hopes to start for the Vols straight away and that he may be able to play a bigger role in 2025 because at least a few seniors are projected to leave following the 2024 season.
“They have great guys returning, so just being able to hopefully get in that rotation and work hard, and really just be a key contributor to that defense and bring that West Coast play style to the South,” Moi said. “I’m excited to show people what I can do.”
