Tennessee beat out Michigan, Texas, and Alabama for four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse on Tuesday night, which was a massive win for Josh Heupel and the Vols.
Rouse committed to Tennessee in front of a packed auditorium at Kell High School in Marietta, GA.
The 6-foot-2.5, 220-pound linebacker is ranked as the fourth-best linebacker in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports’ rankings. Tennessee is building something big in the linebacker room, as the Vols picked up a commitment from fifth-ranked linebacker TJ White just last week.
Rouse ranks as the No. 68 overall player in the nation and the No. 8 player from the state of Georgia in the 2026 class. He makes for Tennessee’s 19th overall commitment after the Vols landed three-star athlete Javonte Smith earlier in the day on Tuesday.
“Active and instinctive pursuing the football, will make plays sideline-to-sideline and evade blockers in space with ease,” 247Sports’ Hudson Standish wrote about Rouse in an evaluation. “Exceptional coverage defender to the point where he could offer flexibility as a potential overhang on Saturdays. Will routinely make highlight snags at the catch point on both sides of the ball, and has shown serious YAC ability for a player his size.”
Rouse is a big-time talent in the class. He lands as Tennessee’s highest-rated defensive commit and the Vols’ third highest-rated commit overall, behind five-star QB Faizon Brandon and five-star OT Gabriel Osenda.
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Want more of a look at what’s coming to Rocky Top? Check out some of the highlights from four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse here:
