Why Josh Heupel might consider flipping Kevin Hart's son at Tennessee

Knoxville, Tenn. – Tennessee’s football program has built a reputation for speed under head coach Josh Heupel, and the Vols may have an unexpected candidate to add even more of it to the roster: Hendrix Hart.

On Thursday the Sierra Canyon School senior signed a National Letter of Intent with the Volunteers’ track and field team, formalizing a commitment that began with a father-son visit to campus last fall. Hart, the 18-year-old son of comedian and actor Kevin Hart, posted lifetime bests of 10.68 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.35 in the 200 this season, numbers that placed him among California’s elite sprinters. He also clocked 34.38 in the 300-meter dash, second-fastest in the state and 86th nationally according to On3, after winning the Great Southwest Indoor Classic and earning silver at the 2025 CIF Southern Section Finals.

Kevin Hart announced the signing on Instagram, telling his son, “The sky is limit!!!!! … We all love you champ …..” The elder Hart and Hendrix met Heupel in Knoxville before the Vols’ victory over East Tennessee State, sparking speculation that the conversation may have extended beyond the oval and onto the gridiron.

Tennessee returns a deep wide-receiver room, but none of the current pass-catchers owns top-100 track credentials. At 5-9 and 165 pounds, Hart’s elite burst and breakaway speed could translate to slot or jet-motion duties if he chose to pursue a two-sport path. While Heupel has given no indication he will actively recruit Hart for football, the staff’s history of valuing track speed—combined with the program’s open willingness to explore every available athlete—makes the possibility worth monitoring.

For now, Hart is slated to begin his collegiate career as a sprinter. Yet in a sport where one “yes” can change a season, the Vols have little to lose by asking the question. The worst anybody can say is no, and it would still make for a compelling storyline on Rocky Top.

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer for The Sporting News with more than two decades of experience covering the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup and WBC Boxing. He is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter, and a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio.