Tennessee’s recruiting has cooled off a bit over the last month after landing a huge pickup in top-100 wide receiver Kesean Bowman. But that’s pretty normal, especially with official visit season just a few weeks away, when things usually start heating up again.
Vols walking tightrope as path to Vegas win total requires near-flawless execution
With June official visits looming, the recruiting trail is already ramping up, and Tennessee just made a major cut. The Vols landed in the top five for elite offensive lineman Nate Carson, who’s now down to Tennessee, Clemson, Georgia, Texas A&M, and South Carolina. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Columbia, South Carolina native is a four-star prospect per On3 and ranks as the No. 4 player in South Carolina a priority target for ther Vols as things start to heat up.
NEWS: Four-Star IOL Nate Carson is down to 5 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 22, 2026
The 6’6 290 IOL is ranked as the No. 1 OL in South Carolina (per Rivals Industry)
Where Should He Go?https://t.co/7gRGvrdRyK pic.twitter.com/FhTtT97GLl
Top offensive lineman Nate Carson adds Tennessee to his top-5
The reality is that landing Carson will not be an easy task. The Vols are going up against the hometown school and four other strong programs.
In the meantime, Josh Heupel needs to keep the relationship strong between Carson and the Tennessee Vols staff. He is expected to take an official visit to Knoxville on June 12. With visits to Texas A&M and South Carolina surrounding that trip, it sets the stage for Tennessee to make sure they stand out and make a strong impression on the four-star lineman.
Carson was an Under Armour All-American this past January and was one of the top players on the field. He is an effective run blocker because of his athleticism for a guard and his ability to play strongly during the play. I think he would be a really good addition, especially since the Vols have been leaning toward a more run-heavy attack.
What’s obvious is that Heupel has made it a top priority to get Tennessee involved with top offensive linemen. A couple of years ago, the offensive line recruiting was fairly mediocre, and now the Vols have really ramped up their efforts to go out and try to get top players. Now the Vols need to close this one out because winning begins and ends in the trenches.
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