Josh Heupel and company are back to work on the recruiting trail, and their high priority now is adding new pieces to the strong foundation of the 2026 recruiting class.
Tennessee currently holds the No. 6 recruiting class in the country for the 2026 recruiting cycle. The class has seven players committed so far and is headlined by five-star North Carolina quarterback Faizon Brandon.
The Vols could be looking to add another top-rated prospect by poaching a player committed to SEC rival Alabama. 2026 four-star corner Zyan Gibson is set to visit Rocky Top in June but has been committed to Alabama since December 24 of last year.
The Gadsden, Alabama native isn't looking to flip his commitment anytime soon, but it's clear he is keeping his options open while exploring his options. He's also currently the only player committed to Alabama's 2026 recruiting class.
On3 Sports' Chad Simmons reported on Monday that Gibson will be keeping his options open during his recruiting process.
While he's strongly committed to Alabama, the Vols have been involved in his recruiting process from the beginning. The connection he has built with Tennessee's coaches from the start of his recruiting process through his commitment to Alabama says a lot about Tennessee's staff and could be why he's still interested in Tennessee.
“They were my first SEC offer and they have recruited me and my family hard from day one,” Gibson said over the weekend. “Them being with me from the start says a lot.”
He had become somewhat familiar with Tennessee before committing to Alabama. He visited Rocky Top on October 13 and November 2 of last year and has also visited Alabama twice since July.
If Heupel can build some recruiting momentum with the 2026 class, he could flip Gibson from the Tide by the time he comes for his on-campus visit in June.