One of the most volatile recruiting sagas in the 2026 cycle appears to have reached its conclusion Tuesday night as four-star athlete Legend Bey was granted his release from the University of Tennessee, clearing the path for him to sign with Ohio State.
The decision ends a chaotic two-week period marked by allegations of family coercion, social media hacking, and a signing day flip that reportedly went against the player’s own wishes.
Bey, a standout prospect from North Forney High School in Texas, requested the release after signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) with the Volunteers on Dec. 3, a signature sources say was driven by his mother’s refusal to sign paperwork for Ohio State.
Because Bey was 17 years old on Early Signing Day, he legally required a parent or guardian’s signature to validate his NLI. According to multiple reports, Bey’s mother favored Tennessee and refused to sign with the Buckeyes, forcing the teenager to sign with the Volunteers to secure a scholarship spot.
However, Bey turns 18 next week, legally allowing him to sign a new agreement without parental consent.
The drama spilled into the public view almost immediately after Signing Day. Shortly after his commitment to Tennessee was announced, erratic posts appeared on Bey’s social media accounts. In a since-deleted post, Bey claimed his brother had access to his accounts and was posting pro-Tennessee content against his will. He later posted an AI-generated image of himself in an Ohio State uniform with the caption, “We have your back,” signaling his true intentions remained with Columbus.
This saga caps a whirlwind recruitment for the No. 6-ranked athlete in the country.
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June 2025: Bey initially committed to Tennessee over Texas A&M following an official visit to Knoxville.
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Nov. 10, 2025: After a visit to Columbus for the Penn State game, Bey flipped his commitment to Ohio State, citing a strong bond with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.
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Dec. 3, 2025: On National Signing Day, in a shocking reversal now attributed to family pressure, Bey flipped back to Tennessee.
Bey’s release from Tennessee allows him to sign with the program of his choice. He is widely expected to sign with Ohio State, where he projects as an “offensive weapon”—a hybrid slot receiver and running back role similar to former Buckeye Curtis Samuel.
If Bey finalizes his pledge to the Buckeyes, he will bolster an Ohio State recruiting class that is already ranked in the top five nationally.
Tennessee officials confirmed Tuesday they had processed the release, officially making Bey a recruiting free agent for likely the final time.
