Tennessee football is entering a highly important 2026 season under Josh Heupel with a number of questions. But Tennessee has less questions then a lot of teams in the SEC. Retaining talent and building year-over-year continuity is tough in the transfer portal era.
Depending on the resolution of Joey Aguilar’s lawsuit, Tennessee will have either 12 or 13 returning starters on next season’s team. Either way, that is the second most returning starters in the SEC behind only Georgia’s 14 returning starters according to research by SEC Mike.
Returning Starters for each SEC team in 2026
Figures compiled by @AthlonSteven pic.twitter.com/0QR9gKbJAn
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 17, 2026
Not counting Aguilar, Tennessee has seven returning starters on the offensive side of the ball including running back DeSean Bishop, offensive tackle David Sanders, center Sam Pendleton, offensive guards Jesse Perry and Wendell Moe as well as receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley.
The Vols also have a pair of players with an abundance of experience including interior offensive lineman Sham Umarov as well as tight end Ethan Davis who will step into a starting position this season.
Tennessee’s biggest question on offense is at quarterback as they await word on whether the courts will grant Joey Aguilar one more year of eligibility. If it’s not Aguilar, George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub will compete for the starting quarterback position.
LSU transfer Ory Williams will also likely plug into a starting position while a number of receivers including Radarious Jackson, Travis Smith and TK Keys will compete to replace Chris Brazzell.
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Tennessee has to replace more production on the defensive side of the ball but that isn’t shocking given the overhaul of both the staff and roster that the Vols undertook following a disappointing 2026 season. The four returning starters include linebackers Arion Carter and Edwin Spillman (or Jeremiah Telander), cornerback Ty Redmond and safety Edrees Farooq.
Defensive tackle Daevin Hobbs was Tennessee’s third defensive tackle and played an abundance of snaps last season while the Vols also return a number of their top linebackers.
On the defensive line, Tennessee added Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, Penn State edge rusher Chaz Coleman and Tulane edge rusher Jordan Norman. At cornerback, Auburn transfer Kayin Lee will start opposite Redmond. Kansas State nickel Qua Moss, Michigan safety TJ Metcalf and Penn State safety Dejuan Lane will all compete for starting spots.
All nine of Tennessee’s SEC opponents have fewer returning staters than them. That list, in order, includes Texas (11), South Carolina (10), Vanderbilt (10), Texas A&M (9), Arkansas (7), LSU (6), Alabama (5), Kentucky (5) and Auburn (3).
Tennessee was a very young football team while posting an 8-5 (4-4 SEC) record in 2025. The Vols mostly retained their key young players from a season ago and are banking on that gained experience to play dividends in 2026.
