ESPN released its updated 2026 recruiting rankings on Thursday morning with Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers soaring up the list. After previously being ranked at No. 15 in the overall list, Tennessee now comes in as a Top 10 team at No. 7 in ESPN’s rankings.
The Vols’ drastic jump up and into the Top 10 can be explained by a trio of high-profile flip commitments that Tennessee landed in a two-week stretch, dating back to the end of August.
On Aug. 21, Tennessee flipped four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair away from South Carolina. Then, one week later, Tennessee made one of the biggest moves of the 2026 cycle by flipping five-star wide receiver and ESPN Top 10 player Tristen Keys away from LSU.
Tennessee wasn’t done there, though. This past Monday, Heupel and his staff were able to win a big recruiting battle by flipping four-star EDGE rusher Hezekiah Harris away from Auburn.
All in all, three former SEC commits that are now with the Vols’ 2026 recruiting class. It was a statement stretch for Heupel and his staff.
“In-state four-star receivers Tyreek King (Knoxville Catholic) and Joel Wyatt (Webb School) pair well alongside (QB commit Faizon) Brandon,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert writes. “King is a quick, fluid target who has clocked in-game speeds faster than 21 mph. Five-star Tristen Keys, out of Mississippi, was a big flip from SEC foe LSU. He brings excellent ball skills and body control and offers a wide catch radius. Keep an eye on in-state offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is a massive presence (6-7, 330 pounds) for the Vols to develop.”
According to ESPN’s metrics, Tennessee has 11 players in the ESPN 300 with two of those in the Top 10 of the player rankings. That would be QB commit Faizon Brandon, No. 8 in the class, and WR Tristen Keys, No. 10 in the class.
Here’s a look at every Tennessee commit who lands in the ESPN 300 rankings:
- No. 8 – Pocket Passer QB Faizon Brandon – 5-star
- No. 10 – WR Tristen Keys – 5-star
- No. 35 – WR Salesi Moa – 4-star
- No. 52 – WR Tyreek King – 4-star
- No. 66 – WR Joel Wyatt – 4-star
- No. 131 – DE Hezekiah Harris – 4-star
- No. 153 – LB Brayden Rouse – 4-star
- No. 247 – DE Zach Groves – 4-star
- No. 257 – DT Dereon Albert – 4-star
- No. 280 – LB T.J. White – 4-star
- No. 295 – OT Kamari Blair – 4-star
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With the update from ESPN on Thursday, Tennessee Football now has a consensus Top 10 recruiting class among the three major services. Tennessee lands at No. 7 in ESPN and 247Sports’ Composite team rankings, and one step back at No. 8 in Rivals’ Industry recruiting services.
This has been a magnificent class for Tennessee and is shaping up to be the best recruiting haul that Josh Heupel has had in Knoxville. Tennessee has been balanced, too. As you can tell from ESPN’s rankings, the Vols have five offensive players and five defensive players in their ten highest-rated players. While they are split up like oil and water, they all project to be impact players once they arrive on campus.
And, as previously mentioned, three of those commits in the Top 11 have been steals from other SEC programs. That’s a situation when Tennessee continues to fight and battle despite those three players having committed to other schools first. It shows the dedication that Tennessee has on the trail and the value of the relationships that have been built.
What’s even more impressive is that Tennessee’s class might not even be done quite yet. The Vols are still going after four-star running back Amari Latimer, a Georgia native and Wisconsin commit. While he’s been pledged to the Badgers since June, the last two weeks have taught us that you can never count out Josh Heupel and the Vols.
