During the Josh Heupel era at Tennessee, the Vols have landed seven 247Sports composite four-star recruits, and with the potential of landing David Gabriel Georges in the coming days, the Vols are in a very good position to potentially secure an eighth five-star recruit.
Josh Heupel’s 3 biggest high school recruiting disappointments at Tennessee
Given all the success in the recruiting trial, let's take a look at how all of Heupel's five-star recruits have fared based on impact at Tennessee.
5. TK Keys, Faizon Brandon, and Gabriel Osenda
Given that all three are true freshmen and haven't played a snap, they cannot be adequately evaluated. However, all three were pivotal members of Heupel's 2026 class at Tennessee. his best since taking the job in Knoxville. Keys is known as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the nation, while Brandon could potentially start at quarterback as a true freshman, and Osenda is known as one of the best run blockers in the nation.
4. Jordan Ross, EDGE
When Ross came to Knoxville, he was expected to be a star, touted as a top-10 recruit and the top-ranked edge rusher in the country. However, he has never fully lived up to that hype. While it’s true that he has flashed potential in moments, Ross has also struggled to put it all together, playing less than 300 snaps last year as a sophomore. This year at LSU, he is expected to play a key role along the defensive line, despite his modest production of only 1.5 sacks in two years.
3. Nico Iamaleava, QB
Despite leaving Tennessee out in the cold, Nico Iamleava was a solid player for the 2024 Vols team, helping lead them to the College Football Playoffs as a former No. 2 overall recruit.Should that mean he should be higher? Maybe. But also, the defense under Tim Banks led the Vols to that playoff, not because of a dynamic offense. However, while Iamaleava has had a solid career as a college quarterback, he hasn't quite lived up to the hype of being a potential top-five draft pick and one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
2. David Sanders Jr., OT
Despite only playing one year so far in Knoxville, David Sanders Jr. has flashed potential first-round NFL draft pick ability. Sanders brings the perfect blend of power and athleticism to the offensive line at Tennessee, and he's been a player who could go from good to great this fall. Sanders was thrown into the fire last year during week five and held his own for the rest of the year, only committing two penalties in nearly 500 snaps. There's no doubt he's been one of Tennessee's best five-stars in the Heupel era.
1. Mike Matthews, WR
One of the best offensive weapons on Tennessee's roster last year was Mike Matthews, who was a standout as a true sophomore. Matthews recorded 53 catches for 813 yards and touchdowns last season. Coming out of high school, he chose Tennessee over Clemson, Georgia, and USC for his commitment, and Matthews has lived up to the hype and then some. He's expected to be a major piece of the 2026 offense and a safety valve for whichever freshman quarterback wins Tennessee's starting job.
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