In one day, Tennessee football will get the 2025 season underway by facing Syracuse in Atlanta. Kickoff in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled for noon ET and will air on ABC.
Before UT gets the 2025 campaign started, let’s take a way-too-early look at what things could look like in 2026. This won’t take into account any outgoing or incoming transfers, which certainly will happen both ways, or potential early exits to the draft, but will include the verbal commits in the 2026 class.
Here’s an early look:
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Names that are italicized are 2026 recruits and will be true freshmen next season
Offense
Quarterback
- Jake Merklinger
- George MacIntyre
- Faizon Brandon
Running back
- DeSean Bishop
- Peyton Lewis
- Daune Morris
- Justin Baker
Wide receiver
- Mike Matthews
- Chris Brazzell
- Travis Smith Jr.
- Braylon Staley
- Radarious Jackson
- Amari Jefferson
- Joakim Dodson
- Tristen Keys
- Salesi Moa
- Tyreek King
- Legend Bey
Tight end
- Ethan Davis
- DaSaahn Brame
- Jack Van Dorselaer
- Cole Harrison
Offensive line
- Lance Heard
- David Sanders Jr.
- Sam Pendleton
- Wendell Moe Jr.
- William Satterwhite
- Max Anderson
- Jesse Perry
- Brian Grant
- Sham Umarov
- Gage Ginther
- Jeremias Heard
- Bennett Warren
- Antoni Ogumoro
- Nic Moore
- Gabriel Osenda
- Kamari Blair
- J.B. Shabazz
- Edward Baker
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Defense
EDGE
- Jordan Ross
- Caleb Herring
- Emmanuel Okoye
- Mariyon Dye
- Tyree Weathersby
- Jayden Loftin
- Christian Gass
- Kellen Lindstrom
- Zach Groves
- CJ Edwards
- Kedric Golston
Defensive tackle
- Daevin Hobbs
- Isaiah Campbell
- Ethan Utley
- Jamal Wallace
- Nathan Robinson
- Josh Schell
- Charles House
- Dereon Albert
- Darryl Rivers
Linebacker
- Arion Carter
- Jeremiah Telander
- Edwin Spillman
- Jordan Burns
- Jadon Perlotte
- Jaedon Harmon
- Ben Bolton
- Brenden Anes
- Brayden Rouse
- TJ White
- Braylon Outlaw
Cornerback
- Jermod McCoy
- Rickey Gibson III
- Ty Redmond
- Colton Hood
- Tre Poteat
- Marcus Goree Jr.
- Colin Brazzell
- Zay Anderson
- Jamyan Theodore
- Javonte Smith
Safety/STAR
- Edrees Farooq
- Kaleb Beasley
- Boo Carter
- Timothy Merritt
- Sidney Walton
- Dylan Lewis
- Joel Wyatt
- Jowell Combay
- KJ McClain
- Luke Thompson
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Special Teams
Kicker
- Max Gilbert
- Josh Turbyville
- Grady Dangerfield
Punter
- Jackson Ross
- Josh Turbyville
Long snapper
- Bennett Brady
- John Rosen
