Most people haven't thought as far ahead as the year 2028 quite yet, but that certainly doesn't apply to the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Josh Heupel.
In a recent recruiting update for Tristin Gaines, the No. 9 quarterback in the class of 2028, none other than the Vols repeatedly popped up as one of the frontrunners in his recruiting process so far.
Not only did Gaines share that Tennessee is one of the "schools standing out," but he also announced that he already has a trip planned to Knoxville to spend time with Heupel.
Tristin Gaines locks down trip to Knoxville
"I have some planned out at this moment. Tennessee, Houston, Texas Tech, Florida, and those are the ones I have scheduled," Gaines said. "I don't have the exact date on me right now, but I do know that I will be visiting Tennessee either on the 21st or 23rd of March."
Gaines, a Texas native, received his offer from the Vols just a couple of months ago on Jan. 23, 2026, but it didn't take long for Heupel to work his magic and turn the young quarterback's attention in his direction.
These planned trips to Tennessee, the Houston Cougars, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, and the Florida Gators would be the first for him, according to On3, and it is obviously still incredibly early on in his recruiting process.
However, already emerging as one of the "top" teams for Gaines is a great step in the right direction for Heupel and the Volunteers.
During his sophomore season, Gaines amassed 1,267 passing yards for 12 touchdowns in just seven games. A dual-threat quarterback, he also ran for 438 yards and tacked on 10 touchdowns on the ground. The cherry on top? He even had a reception for a whopping 39 yards through the air.
While Gaines would join the class of 2028, which is still heavily in the works, Heupel's class of 2027 ranks 17th in the country and seventh in the SEC, highlighted by four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo and four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife.