4 Tennessee Football rising stars land on prestigious list

Just a day after Tennessee wideout Brandon Staley was named SEC Freshman of the Year, the first freshman at Tennessee to win since Peyton Manning, more young Tennessee stars were rewarded with a significant accomplishment.

While Tennessee has had plenty of individual stars over the years, having multiple players recognized on the same list is a sign that the program is building real depth and national relevance.

Thursday afternoon, it was announced that Braylon Staley, Ty Redmond, David Sanders Jr., and Edwin Spillman were named to the Coaches Freshman All-SEC Team.

Freshman All-SEC Team features 4 Tennessee players

The 2025 class is already proving to be a great class for Josh Heupel. On signing day last year, Vols fans were excited about it, but I'm not sure anyone expected it to perform this well.

It's easy to see why Brandon Staley made the list, as he was one of the most electric players in the nation. Staley had some of the best numbers in the nation for a freshman with 64 catches for 806 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.

Ty Redmond was a pleasant surprise in 2025. As one of the lower-rated players in the 2025 class, he proved the doubters wrong and filled in very nicely for future first-round pick Jermod McCoy as he missed all of 2025 with an ACL injury.

Former 5-star recruit and highest-rated member of the 2025 class, David Sanders Jr., was always expected to be a stud, but nobody expected it to come so soon. Sanders Jr. posted a 73.6 pass blocking grade on Pro Football Focus, which is considered good. The young tackle still has a long way to go in terms of improvement, but he is already proving he has the tools to be a star.

Edwin Spillman was a big recruiting win over Ohio State a couple of years ago. In 2025, Spillman had 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. He is a quick-twitch downhill linebacker who flashed a lot last season. Spillman is a guy with a full offseason who could really pop off next fall.

It’s worth remembering, that the 2026 class that will be on campus next fall and is the highest ranked class that Josh Heupel has signed at Tennessee. It features three 5-star recruits and plenty of high-ceiling 3- and 4-star recruits. Pairing them with this talented 2025 class could be a combo that brings a title to Knoxville.

Tennessee fans should be fired up because the future is bright. With four players on the Freshman All-SEC Team this year, the 2026 class could beat that number. Stay tuned.