While it wasn’t an official declaration, Tennessee football seemingly got some good news about its roster for the upcoming 2026 season. Tight end Ethan Davis made a post on his X account featuring a picture of him in a game this year. The caption read ‘thank you jesus’ with an orange heart emoji, ‘year 3’ with a checkmark emoji and ‘excited for 2026! GBO!’
This certainly makes it seem like Davis’ intention is to return to Tennessee for his fourth season with the Vols. After taking a redshirt earlier in his career, he has two years of eligibility remaining.
This past 2025 season, Davis played his biggest role yet. In nine games, as he fought through injury, he posted 257 receiving yards and two touchdowns. However, in the final two regular-season games of the year without Miles Kitselman, he looked like a breakout star.
Davis recorded five receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown in the win at Florida. The next week, he notched seven catches for 85 yards against Vanderbilt.
thank you jesus🧡
year 3✅ excited for 2026! GBO! pic.twitter.com/dSXW9LCkGM— ethan davis (@davis1ethan) January 2, 2026
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Davis has claimed before that he has no intention of ever leaving Tennessee, as well. Just ahead of the 2025 year, he made this claim:
“This is my home,” Davis said prior to the 2025 season. “This is where I want to play football at. I would never even transfer from Tennessee regardless of the circumstances.”
Davis joins a tight end room that will feature second-year players Jack Van Dorselaer and DaSaahn Brame. Cole Harrison is also in the mix, and the Vols just signed Luca Wolf from the prep ranks. While Tennessee could always go to the portal for depth, it seems the room is in a good position for next season.
