
Tennessee looks to be making progress with a four-star prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
Brayden Rouse, a linebacker from Marietta, GA, recently attended Tennessee’s Junior Day recruiting event held in Knoxville on January 18.
On Wednesday, On3 Sports’ VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for Tennessee to land the talented prospect with a 60% confidence meter. Tennessee now holds a commanding 97% chance to land Rouse according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.
On3’s industry rankings have Rouse listed as the No. 275 player in the class, the No. 22 linebacker, and the No. 33 player from the state of Georgia. 247’s recruiting rankings have Rouse listed as a Top 70 player and the No. 4 linebacker in the class.
“Really enjoyed my time at Tennessee’s Junior Day,” Rouse posted to X on Jan. 18. “Loved spending time with the coaches and staff!”
Really enjoyed my time at Tennessee’s Junior Day. Loved spending time with the coaches and staff!@CoachTimBanks @WilliamInge1 @CoachORourke @ClarenceTK74 @coachjoshheupel @LevornH @CoachForrestL @mahazub pic.twitter.com/gWvxdmYkZg
— Brayden Rouse ✰ (@BraydenRouse8) January 18, 2025
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Rouse, a multi-sport athlete at Kell High School in basketball and track & field, has also been a multi-position player on the gridiron for the Longhorns. According to 247, Rouse took snaps at linebacker, EDGE rusher, safety, wide receiver, and tight end during his junior season.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect has been racking up scholarship offers as of late. Since the start of 2025, Rouse has picked up offers from Michigan, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma among others.
Tennessee was ahead of the pack, though. The Vols targeted Rouse with a scholarship offer in August 2024 and got him on campus for the Florida game and the UTEP game last season. Rouse also attended a Tennessee practice in December as the Vols were gearing up for Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs.
Tennessee has one linebacker commit in the 2026 class with three-star Braylon Outlaw but the Vols did well at the position in the 2025 class. Tennessee signed four talented linebackers in the 2025 cycle with four-star Christian Gass, four-star Jadon Perlotte, four-star Jaedon Harmon, and three-star Brenden Anes.
Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks No. 5 in the nation with eight total commits according to 247. The class is headlined by five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon but doesn’t feature too much defensive talent yet. If he committed today, Rouse would make for Tennessee’s ninth overall and third defensive commitment in the class.