Tennessee football gaining momentum in the race for a 4-star IMG Academy WR

With the Transfer Portal wrapping up, Josh Heupel and Tennessee are beginning to shift their focus to the class of 2027. The Vols already have four commits, including two 4-stars in Princeton Uwaifo and Kadin Fife.

Josh Heupel moves quickly as Tennessee is expected to hire Indiana coach after the national title game

With that said, we have some more news regarding the 2027 class. Rivals' Greg Biggins has reported that Oregon, Washington, and Tennessee are starting to separate for Zion White, an IMG Academy 4-star wideout.

Tennessee is in the top 3 for IMG Academy WR Zion White

Zion White is a 6-foot-3, 170-pound wideout who is ranked the No. 176 player in the class of 2027 and the No. 21 wide receiver by Rivals. He's a natural athlete with a big catch radius who has the leaping ability to high-point the ball. He'd be a perfect fit in Heupel's offense.

If there’s one thing Tennessee football really knows how to do, it’s pick up yards through the air. Josh Heupel’s offense just clicks for quarterbacks and wide receivers, letting them make plays and really stretch the field. This has to be something that White likes about Knoxville. Plus, he would have the chance to have a Faizon Brandon throwing to him, the No. 2 player in the 2026 class.

Although Washington and Oregon both have wide receiver-friendly offenses, too. Jedd Fisch recruited Tet McMillan to Arizona when he was there, and Washington's Denzel Boston will likely be a top-15 pick in the NFL Draft in April. Oregon has had its fair share of successful wideouts as well. Troy Franklin was a second-rounder, and Tez Johnson had a nice college career before being drafted.

You’ve got to appreciate that White comes from IMG, one of the nation’s premier programs that consistently churns out top Division I talent. Recruiting players like this is what will boost Tennessee into a title contender, and potentially beating out two schools like Oregon and Washington with good offenses is always a plus.

Wide receiver isn't the biggest need for the Vols, but why not get as many elite athletes as possible? Tennessee brought in 5-star Tristen Keys and 4-star Tyreek King in the class of 2026. Still, they do need a couple more guys, and being in the mix for a player like Zion White is huge.