Alontae Taylor is an athlete at Coffee County that has eclipsed the 1,300-yard rushing mark for the last three seasons. Autumn Allison/USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee
The on again, off again relationship between Alontae Taylor and Tennesee football is back on.
Taylor, a four-star recruit by 247Sports, recommitted to Tennessee on Wednesday, a month after decommitting from the SEC program.
The Coffee County athlete took to Twitter on Wednesday saying:
"Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 1000% COMMITTED #PruittEra"
Taylor, who is the No. 5 prospect in the state, originally committed to Tennessee on June 18, 2016 before decommitting from the Vols on Nov. 12, the day Butch Jones was fired. At that time he said his top five schools were Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Wake Forest with Georgia being the front runner.
Taylor picked the Vols over Georgia, and notified coach Kirby Smart of his decision.
Taylor plans to sign during the early signing period that runs from Dec. 20-22 and will be an early enrollee.
Coffee County coach Ryan Sulkowski said the recruiting process can be a difficult one for athletes.
"When they initiated the unlimited text to recruits, that changed things a lot for athletes," Coffee County coach Ryan Sulkowski said. "A lot of times recruits will turn their phones off.
"They can handle the media. But there are so many coaches that are calling and texting that it makes it tough."
Sulkowski said Taylor wanted to decommit from Tennessee after Georgia beat the Vols 41-0 on Sept. 30.
"Because of the type of kid he is, and out of respect for coach Jones he didn't," Sulkowski said. "He didn't want to add more to what was going on at Tennessee. After (Jones) was let go that changed things completely."
Taylor has been recruited to play quarterback, wide receiver and safety. The Vols recruited him as a receiver.
This season, Taylor was 24-of-46 passing for 391 yards with three touchdowns for the Red Raiders (3-7). He also rushed for 1,409 yards on 141 carries with 21 TDs and caught 11 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown. Taylor had 13 tackles and an interception on defense.
He was recently named the East Offensive MVP in the Toyota East West Football All-Star Classic held Dec. 8 at Austin Peay after catching three passes for 71, throwing an 83-yard TD pass and running for 26 yards.
Taylor burst on the scene as a freshman when he combined for 2,164 total yards — 1,676 rushing yards, 433 passing yards and 55 receiving yards. That led to an offer from Vanderbilt in the offseason. He committed to Vandy in April 2015, but decommitted six months later. He then committed to Tennessee in November 2015.
He finished his career with 8,225 total yards — 6,000 rushing yards, 1,746 passing yards and 479 receiving yards.
Keaton Jones, whose bullying video has gone viral, visited with UT Athletics Director Phil Fulmer and members of the Vols football team on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Submitted/ University of Tennessee.
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was introduced during a timeout at the Vols basketball game on Saturday Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Watch a time lapse of University of Tennessee sophomore Kate Luffman painting The Rock to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks about who he sees as the Vols' opponents during his introduction ceremony in the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
The Tennessee coaching search has gone through a tumultuous week. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Tennessee has named former head football coach Phil Fulmer as the athletics director. Wochit
John Currie is out as the Tennessee athletic director after eight months on the job and one chaotic week of a football coaching search, according to media reports. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has been hired as the next coach at Tennessee. Wochit
More than 100 people gathered outside Neyland Stadium on Nov. 26, then marched on Anderson Training Center to express outrage after reports surfaced that Tennessee is finalizing a deal to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano. Calvin Mattheis
Jauan Jennings on Sunday drove by a crowd who, minutes earlier, had chanted "Free Jauan." The UT Vols released Jennings after he posted a profanity-laced rant to Instagram. He has since apologized. Submitted / Twitter user @witness781
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This story will be updated.