As Tennessee Football and head coach Josh Heupel close the book on the 2026 recruiting class, the Vols are already hard at work on building toward the future with the 2027 recruiting class. According to a new report this week, it looks like the Vols are starting to make a good impression on a defensive prospect out of Charlotte, NC.
On3Sports’ Chad Simmons reports that Tennessee is one of four teams that are standing out to Galloway. The other teams include Nebraska, Notre Dame, and SMU, but it is notable that Tennessee is closest to home.
In a conversation with Simmons, Galloway states that he loves defensive line coach Rodney Garner. He also points out that his former teammate, David Sanders Jr., is currently with the Vols’ program. Galloway states that Sanders is happy at Tennessee, and he trusts what his former teammate says about Heupel’s program.
Sanders could be a huge factor in Tennessee busting down the door to Galloway’s recruitment.
Galloway is ranked as a three-star prospect in Rivals’ Industry Rankings, landing as the No. 487 player in the class, the No. 46 EDGE rusher in the cycle, and the No. 20 player from the state of North Carolina. He currently attends Providence Day School, where Sanders graduated from before his first season at Tennessee in 2025.
More From RTI: Tennessee Reportedly Pursuing Highly Touted Transfer Quarterback
Josh Heupel and his staff may have to work quickly to continue to make an impression on Galloway. Simmons states that there’s no strict timeline for his recruitment, but Galloway says that he doesn’t want to drag things out into his season next fall.
“I don’t want to commit too late,” Galloway said to Simmons. “I’m going to be focused on the season, so finding the right home before then is important. I could see myself committing in that normal time – late in the summer, after official visits.”
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman has been to Tennessee twice on visits so far. He was in Knoxville for one of the Vols’ spring practices last season, and then made a trip to Rocky Top for a gameday experience. Perhaps the Vols can continue to make an impression by getting him back on campus for a spring workout or a recruiting event to help their cause next year.
Tennessee currently has four commitments in the 2027 cycle, which lands at No. 15 in On3’s team rankings. The Vols have pledges from four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield, and three-star linebacker JP Peace.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football recruiting coverage.
