In the world of recruiting, stars matter, but it's not everything. While there is a direct correlation between recruiting rankings and the top schools in college football every year, it doesn’t mean the recruiting services themselves get everything right. At Tennessee, Josh Heupel has done a great job finding underrated three-star prospects, real diamonds in the rough, while also discovering top-tier talent among four- and five-star recruits that can help Tennessee immediately.
Every Josh Heupel 5-star recruit ranked by impact at Tennessee
Given that, let's take a look at the three most underrated recruits who shattered expectations at Tennessee during the Heupel tenure so far.
3. Ty Redmond, CB
As just a three-star recruit last fall, Ty Redmond made a significant impact after Tennessee's secondary faced numerous injuries. Not only did Redmond step in as a steady presence in the cornerback room, but he also performed exceptionally well for the Vols.
Redmond racked up 43 tackles, 12 passes defended, a TFL, and three interceptions as a true freshman in 2025. I bet nobody had him on their bingo card exploding onto the scene last fall. This year, he's expected to make the jump to CB1 alongside Auburn transfer Kayin Lee in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' defense.
If Redmond continues his stellar play, he will find himself becoming an NFL Draft pick in a couple of years.
2. James Pearce Jr., EDGE
While Pearce was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, Heupel's first one in Knoxville, I don’t think anyone expected him to be as good as he was. Tennessee beat out Missouri for his commitment, so it’s not like he had every offer in the world despite being ranked 202 in the 247Sports composite rankings.
As a high school senior, Pearce was a big riser, jumping almost 400 spots in the rankings, and he didn’t slow down in college, posting 10 sacks as a true sophomore.
This led Pearce to be a first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons and was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Pearce has really exceeded the expectations of what many thought he could be, which is great.
1. Dylan Sampson, RB
Ranked as a three-star recruit by the 247Sports composite, who would have thought that Dylan Sampson would go on to be the SEC Player of the Year in 2024? The Vols beat out Purdue for his commitment, which isn't exactly known as a recruiting powerhouse, but he shattered expectations and then some.
Sampson was arguably the biggest factor in the Vols’ success in reaching the College Football Playoffs, as he posted remarkable statistics. In 2024, he ran for 1,491 yards and scored 22 touchdowns, while also making 20 catches for 143 yards. This impressive performance led him to be selected in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns, where he has carved out a role as a third-down back behind Quinshon Judkins.
Sampson burst onto the scene as a true freshman, rushing for nearly 400 yards, and he never looked back. It will be tough to find a recruit who breaks expectations as Sampson did during the Heupel era.
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