Tennessee has a huge month of recruiting coming up with official visits about to start. Right now, the Vols sit at seven commits, but that’s likely going to change soon. This is going to be a huge recruiting cycle for Josh Heupel and the staff. They have a chance to build on the 2026 class, which was the best one that Heupel has signed since arriving in Knoxville. There are tons of talent visiting Tennessee, but also plenty of roster needs still to address.
Let's take a look at the three biggest needs Josh Heupel must address in the 2027 recruiting class.
1. Tight End
In 2026, Tennessee only signed one tight end, Luca Wolf, from the NFL Academy in London. Wolf clearly has a lot of upside, but he’s still very new to football after only playing for about a year. It’ll probably take some time before he truly grows into the player he can be. Given that, it would be wise for Heupel to make sure he gets another solid tight end in the class. Right now, the Vols are going after in-state four-star Malik Howard and Ben Kolar from Norman, Oklahoma. Behind Ethan Davis, Tennessee could definitely use more depth at tight end, so landing another talented player there would be a big addition for the Vols.
2. Safety
Safety has become a major focus for Tennessee in this recruiting cycle. Within Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme, the position plays a key role, which has led Tennessee to aggressively pursue depth and talent there. As of right now, Tennessee has two commitments, with Jaden Butler and Carter Jamison being the only pledges at that position. However, Tennessee still has six more safeties visiting this June for official visits. Don't be shocked if Tennessee signs five safeties this cycle.
3. Running back
This is a big need for Tennessee, and while they’ve put a lot of attention on David Gabriel-Georges, they’re not all-in on just one guy. The Vols will host seven tailbacks this summer, but Gabriel-Georges is still the top target, especially as an in-state five-star. With Desean Bishop likely gone after this year, Tennessee needs to reload quickly in the backfield. The staff only took one running back in 2026, and it was a last-second addition, so adding an elite running back is a huge need.
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