Recruiting Analyst Names Tennessee Football One of the ‘Summer Winners’ on the Trail

After a somewhat slow start to the 2026 class, Tennessee football’s recruiting efforts heated up in a hurry this summer.

As a result, Rivals recruiting analyst Hayes Fawcett named the Vols as a top 10 ‘summer winner‘ in the recruiting landscape. Tennessee clocked in as the No. 9 team in this category.

The criteria was laid out by Fawcett as spanning the months of June, July and August and valuing quality over quantity. The Vols finished behind just Oregon, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC, Texas A&M and Michigan in that order. UT is ahead of Florida State.

More From RTI: Everything Tennessee Defensive Line Coach Rodney Garner Said During Fall Camp

Here are the commitments Tennessee has landed in the summer to earn the high ranking:

ATH Salesi Moa – 7/31/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Tennessee Football Lands Commitment of Five-Star Athlete With Two-Way Potential

 

ATH Joel Wyatt – 7/28/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Four-Star In-State Athlete Joel Wyatt Commits To Tennessee Football

 

OL J.B. Shabazz – 7/11/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Tennessee Football Lands Commitment From Four-Star Offensive Tackle J.B. Shabazz Over SEC Rival

 

DB Jowell Combay – 7/9/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Three-Star Georgia Safety Commits To Tennessee Over SEC Foes

 

LB Brayden Rouse – 7/8/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Tennessee Football Earns Commitment From Top-4 Linebacker in 2026 Class Brayden Rouse

 

DB Javonte Smith – 7/8/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Tennessee Football Adds Commitment From In-State Athlete Javonte Smith to Growing 2026 Class

 

DL Darryl Rivers – 7/4/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Tennessee Football Bolsters Defensive Line With New Commitment Darryl Rivers

 

LB TJ White – 7/1/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Tennessee Football Lands 4-star Linebacker TJ White To Continue Hot Stretch on Trail

 

DL Dereon Albert – 7/1/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Four-Star Dereon Albert Talks Commitment To Tennessee, Vols Coaches ‘Keeping It Real’

 

CB Jamyan Theodore – 7/1/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Tennessee Football Lands Third Commit of the Day in In-State Cornerback Jamyan Theodore

CB Zay Anderson – 6/28/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Local Three-Star Recruit Commits To Tennessee Football

 

WR Legend Bey – 6/28/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Four-Star Athlete Commits To Tennessee Football Over SEC Foe

 

DL Kedric Golson II – 6/27/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Three-Star Defensive End, Georgia Legacy Commits To Tennessee Football

 

IOL Edward Baker – 6/27/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Three-Star Interior Offensive Lineman Commits To Tennessee Football

 

S Luke Thompson – 6/14/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Instate Three-Star Recruit Commits To Tennessee Football

 

S KJ McClain – 6/11/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Tennessee Adds Defensive Commit KJ McClain to the 2026 Class

 

Outside of the window, as an entire class, Tennessee ranks as the No. 10 group in the country, according to 247. This is through 22 commitments at this point, with multiple high-profile targets still on the board. This includes five-star running back Savion Hiter and five-star offensive guard Darius Gray.

Here are the remainder of the commits in the boat outside the window:

 

EDGE Zach Groves – 5/21/25

• 247Sports Rating: 4-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Four-Star, Instate Edge Rusher Commits To Tennessee Football

 

EDGE CJ Edwards – 2/25/25

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Three-Star Defensive End Commits To Tennessee Football

 

OT Gabriel Osenda – 1/11/25

• 247Sports Rating: 5-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Five-Star Tennessee Football Commit ‘Done Taking Visits’ To Other Schools

 

LB Braylon Outlaw – 11/8/24

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 3-star
• Tennessee Football Commit Shuts Down His Recruitment

 

WR Tyreek King – 10/31/24

• 247Sports Rating: 3-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• Tennessee Commit Puts Up Impressive Showing at Recruiting Event

 

QB Faizon Brandon – 8/3/24

• 247Sports Rating: 5-star
• On3/Rivals Rating: 4-star
• ESPN Assesses Five-Star Tennessee Football QB Commit Faizon Brandon’s Fit With Vols

 

By position: Quarterback (1), Receiver (2), Offensive Line (3), Tight End (0), Defensive Line (5), Linebacker (3), Defensive Back (6), Athlete (2)