Tennessee suffered a recruiting setback Monday, losing its grip on dominant offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm.
The 4-star prospect backed off a verbal pledge to the Volunteers that stood since April, according to Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports. His decision opens the door for other SEC programs to claim a commitment.
Auburn particularly piques Hamm's interest. The 6'5", 320-pound tackle told Niebuhr he now considers the Tigers his new leader, going so far as to say a commitment could be "close."
It's a strong indication that Auburn is a heavy favorite moving forward and that his feelings toward the program probably played a pivotal role in his leaving Tennessee's 2016 class.