Richmond Kickers midfielder Katie Cousins has revealed her verbal commitment to join the University of Tennessee upon graduation from Jefferson Forest High School.  A true U16 player, who currently plays an age group up with the Kickers U17 Girls Elite, Cousins is ranked the number two player in the nation according to Topdrawersoccer.com.

“I committed to Tennessee because I feel like I have developed a really good relationship with the head coach, Brian Pensky,” Cousins recently told Topdrawersoccer.com. “Also, the team seems to be all team-oriented which I love. When I visited there, the place just felt like a second home. I felt really comfortable being there.”
 
During her recruiting visit, she was also able to take in a game, and enjoyed what she saw.
 
“When I watched the soccer team play it made me very pleased,” she said. “They always seem to fight until the very end of games and they played a lot through the midfield which is good for me.”
 
Outside of the soccer program, Cousins also liked the school’s vibe and school spirit, which was icing on the cake.
 
“I know Tennessee loves their sports and always cheers for them - as I do for my school right now,” she said. “I also really like how their campus is set up on the river, and their facilities are really amazing and kept in great shape.”
 
Cousins, who ranks No. 2 in the ’15 class, has caught the eye of the U.S. technical staff, having been called in to previous U15 GNT camps this past year.