Edwin Spillman's incredible journey from Africa to Nashville to Tennessee football commit

Edwin Spillman's journey from his native West African home of Sierra Leone to Nashville, Tennessee, has been well documented.
But Spillman's full story is still a work in progress. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Lipscomb Academy linebacker added a chapter to the story last week when he committed to Tennessee football, joining his brother Nate, who will begin his freshman year in Knoxville as a wide receiver.
Spillman is a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 8 prospect in Tennessee and 28th linebacker in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. Spillman is No. 2 on The Tennessean's 2023 Dandy Dozen list, a collection of the top college football prospects who are seniors in the Nashville area as selected by the newspaper.
"That's the whole purpose of why I play football," Spillman said. "It's about my family. I'm playing for my family back home (in Sierra Leone) for my family here, and especially for my mom and my dad."
Jeremy and Melissa Spillman adopted Edwin, Nate and Bennett and brought them to the United States in 2013. The three brothers' father, Osman, was among 16 who died in a boating accident off the coast of Sierra Leone heading toward its capital, Freetown. Their mother, Konima, died from complications during surgery in 2020.
Though Edwin Spillman, his brothers and mom spoke regularly after their adoption was finalized in 2013, the last time he saw his mother in person was in court as she signed the adoption papers.
"It was tough when she died," Spillman said. "I remember the exact day we got the phone call from my (older) sister (Mariatu). We were all sitting at home (in Nashville). It was a tough day. It was a lot mentally to think about it."
Mariatu Bendu is one of three older siblings who still live in Sierra Leone along with half-brother Amidu, 25, and Yayah, 21. Conversations across the Atlantic were sporadic until Spillman's older siblings were able to get cellphones. Now, he and Nate periodically give them updates on their life.
Nate said he and Edwin want to eventually travel to the Shenge village where their older siblings live in Sierra Leone.
"That's something we've talked about," Nate Spillman said. "They live in such a third-world country, they don't know much about football. We've tried to explain it to them, but I don't think they fully understand what it is we're doing. We've shown them video, sent them photos of us on college visits and recruiting."
Edwin Spillman's recruiting path went into hyper drive last year after helping Lipscomb Academy win a second straight Division II-AA state championship. He had 129 tackles, 14.5 of them for loss. With close to 40 offers, he narrowed his list to six schools on April 6 then cut it down to Tennessee and Ohio State on July 10. With Nate already anchored in Knoxville, it made Edwin's decision to join him easier.
"I just tell him to keep enjoying things and not to let it stress you out," Nate said, about Edwin's recruitment prior to Edwin's decision. "He can't go wrong. I'm pushing him toward Tennessee because I want my brother playing with me, but I'm going to love and support him where ever he goes."
Edwin Spillman has been among the top targets for Tennessee over the past year.
“The biggest thing is he fits (Tennessee's) defense for what they want," said On3's Austin Price. "He can play either linebacker position.
"Tennessee is obviously in a two-linebacker set because they play so much nickel. He’s big enough to play inside and athletic enough to play on the edge outside. And he’s super intelligent."
Next year, both Nate and Edwin will be in Knoxville with Bennett remaining in Nashville. Bennett is a defensive lineman for Franklin but a constant source of inspiration for his older brothers.
"We're still building our relationship with each other and helping each other grow," Edwin said. "We all want to see each other succeed so we've been helping out Bennett, working with him on his pass rush. We all love each other."
When Jeremy and Melissa Spillman adopted the three brothers, they met with the Bendu family members to assure them Edwin, Nate and Bennett would be taken care of. Nate will be playing SEC football on Saturdays this fall, Edwin will join him next year, and Bennett will star for the Admirals on Friday nights.
"It's been a true blessing from God," Edwin said.