There's hot and then there's scorching hot. This is the case for Tennessee football and its recruiting efforts. Before the day got started, Josh Heupel had landed four new pledges for the 2026 class in recent days. Now, two more playmakers are on board.
As most of you knew, 4-star linebacker TJ White and 4-star defensive lineman Dereon Albert announced their decisions on Tuesday. Those announcements just came in, with the two playmakers letting the world know they'll be Knoxville-bound in 2026. The two shares the news during a special ceremony from their high school.
4-star LB TJ White committing to Tennessee is massive news for Josh Heupel
Starting things off with White, he instantly becomes one of the highest-rated pledges on the board for Heupel and his staff. No, he's not a 5-star guy like Faizon Brandon and Gabriel Osenda, but he's a 4-star 'backer, who is ranked the No. 5 LB in the country by 247Sports.
Throughout his recruitment, White has picked up 30 offers, but he was down to Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn and Mississippi State. Bill Belichick and North Carolina were also showing strong interest, but the lure of playing in the SEC for Heupel was too much for the 6-1, 230-pounder to pass up on.
4-star DL Dereon White has also committed to Tennessee football over 31 other offers
Not to be outdone, Albert rocking with Tennessee is also massive for Heupel. This cycle, the 6-2, 305-pounder, who also stars for Jackson Academy in Mississippi like White, picked up 32 total offers. In the end, the big-bodied d-lineman was choosing between UNC and Tennessee.
Heupel getting the job done over Belichick? That's exactly how things went down. It always felt like the Vols were in the driver's seat to land the high school teammates and the fact that they made their announcements together like this makes things even more special. Both will be ready to sign with the Vols in December during the Early Signing Period.