With a single tweet, Mallard Creek wide receiver Marquez North lifted the hopes of an entire fan base.

“I will be going to (Tennessee) in the fall,” North tweeted Wednesday night.

Mallard Creek football coach Mike Palmieri confirmed the commitment Thursday.

Before his commitment, North was the state’s highest-rated prospect to have not chosen a college. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he is considered the nation’s second-best receiver, according to recruiting website rivals.com.

“He felt it was the best fit for him for the next four years,” Palmieri said. “It was a hard choice between them, (North) Carolina and Clemson. He felt Tennessee was a place where he can excel and succeed on and off the field.”

New Tennessee coach Butch Jones inherited a Volunteers squad that has had three consecutive losing seasons and four in the past five years. North’s decision is a coup for the Volunteers, who lost their top four receiving targets this past season to the NFL draft and graduation.

North scored 27 touchdowns (15 receiving and 12 rushing) in nine games in 2012 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in October.

He can make his commitment official on National Signing Day on Wednesday.