Tennessee football has been highly active on the recruiting trail, landing 10 of its 19 commitments in the 2026 recruiting class in the last three weeks.
With the Vols’ 2026 recruiting class coming into frame, let’s take a look at which positions Tennessee has recruited best and worst over the last three classes. The oldest class, the 2024 recruiting class, is just now entering its sophomore season so these recruiting results have mostly not been seen on the field yet.
And while evaluating and development, as well as the transfer portal, means the recruiting results won’t directly match up with what we see on the field in coming years, it does give us a decent indication.
*All rankings are via the 247sports composite rankings.
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1. Quarterback
2026: 1 five-star
2025: 1 four-star
2024: 1 four star
Total: 1 five-star, 2 four-stars
Notes: Tennessee has consistently recruited quarterback well under Josh Heupel. They signed four-star Jake Merklinger in the 2024 cycle and four-star George MacIntyre in the 2025 cycle. But the real prize is five-star Faizon Brandon, the nation’s No. 6 player, in the 2026 cycle.
2. Inside Linebacker
2026: 2 four-star, 1 three-star
2025: 3 four-stars, 1 three-star
2024: 2 four-stars
Total: 7 four-stars, 2 three-stars
Notes: Former inside linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary did a solid job in the 2024 cycle, landing a pair of low four-stars. But new assistant William Inge has taken things to a whole new level. In 15 months on the job, Inge has landed five four-star linebackers including beating out top-level SEC foes such as Alabama, Georgia and Texas for Jaedon Harmon, Christian Gass and Brayden Rouse.
3. Defensive Line
2026: 1 four-star, 2 three-stars
2025: 4 four-stars
2024: 1 four-star, 2 three-stars
Total: 6 four-stars, 4 three-stars
Notes: Rodney Garner has been an elite recruited in the SEC for over three decades and former defensive analyst and now outside linebackers coach LeVorn “Chop” Harbin is also a stout recruiter who has been involved in defensive line recruiting. This group has lacked the truly elite prospects but did land Isaiah Campbell, the nation’s No. 33 player, last cycle and has consistently stacked quality players.
4. Outside Linebacker
2026: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
2025: 1 four-star
2024: 1 five-star
Total: 1 five-star, 2 four-stars, 1 three-star
Notes: Five-star Jordan Ross in the 2024 cycle is the true difference maker in this group but the Vols continue to land at least one blue-chip recruit a year at the LEO spot. Four-star Mariyon Dye was also originally listed as an edge in the 2025 class before being moved to defensive end.
5. Offensive Line
2026: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
2025: 1 five-star, 1 four-star, 1 three-star
2024: 3 four-stars, 3 three-stars
Total: 1 five-star, 5 four-stars, 5 three-stars
Notes: Once the glaring hole of Tennessee’s recruiting, Glen Elarbee and the Vols have turned it around in recent years. It started with four-star tackle Bennett Warren (No. 140) in the 2024 class and then continued to five-star tackle David Sanders (No. 6) in the 2025 class. The Vols have landed four-star tackle Gabriel Osenda (No. 153) in the 2026 class while Tennessee is also in play to land other blue-chip tackles in this cycle. The interior offensive line recruiting has been solid too. After having to live in the portal in recent years, Tennessee is set up to build its offensive line through the high school ranks in upcoming years.
6. Tight End
2026: 1 four-star
2025: 2 four-stars
2024: 1 three-star
Total: 3 four-stars, 1 three-star
Notes: Alec Abeln had a rough first recruiting cycle in 2024 but bounced back with a strong portal class and by landing two four-stars, including the nation’s No. 4 tight end DaSaahn Brame, last cycle. We’ll see if Tennessee can hold on to four-star commit Carson Sneed in 2026. He’s a major flip candidate to Florida.
7. Receiver
2026: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
2025: 2 four-star, 1 three-star
2024: 1 five-star, 1 four-star
Total: 1 five-star, 4 four-stars, 2 three-stars
Notes: This is a make or break year on the field for Tennessee’s receivers and the Vols need class of 2024 blue-chippers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley to emerge as legit options. Kelsey Pope has done a fine job on the recruiting trail but there’s more blue-chip receivers than any other position. Flipping five-star Tristen Keys from LSU would go a long way to boosting this class.
8. Running Back
2026: No commits
2025: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
2024: 1 four-star
Total: 2 four-stars, 1 three-star
Notes: If Tennessee beats on Michigan for five-star Savion Hiter than this group will go up a few marks. Flipping four-star Daune Morris (No. 418) was a late win in the 2025 cycle, but the Vols don’t have many game changing running back wins on the recruiting trail. But that doesn’t bother me. Tennessee’s had nothing but production in its running game under Josh Heupel, mostly with lower rated recruits.
9. Cornerback
2026: 3 three-stars
2025: 1 four-star, 3 three-stars
2024: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
Total: 2 four-stars, 7 three-stars
Notes: Thanks to landing Rickey Gibson III in the 2023 cycle and a number of big portal additions, Tennessee has one of the SEC’s best cornerback rooms entering this season. But the Vols are going to need major development wins or more portal wins to keep that trend alive. Four-star Kaleb Beasley (No. 159) in the 2024 cycle is also now playing safety.
10. Safety
2026: 2 three-star
2025: 1 three-star
2024: 1 four-star, 1 three-star
Total: 1 four-star, 4 three-stars
Notes: No where has Tennessee been more uncompetitive with blue-chip recruits than safety. Boo Carter is the one-blue chip win and that was an extremely unique recruitment. Florida flipped four-star Lagonza Hayward from Tennessee late last cycle and the Vols are battling Ole Miss for four-star Craig Tutt out of Murfreesboro this cycle. On the field, Tennessee’s safety play has been fine. But Tim Banks hasn’t won many big time recruiting battles there.
