Tennessee football isn't waiting to start collecting commitments from 2026 blue-chip prospects. Josh Heupel brought in his first top-ten recruiting class this past cycle and is looking to do it again in 2026.
The Vols currently have the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, which doesn't mean much at this point in the 2026 recruiting cycle. We're just getting started, so a lot can change over the next 11 months when we reach signing day, but Heupel isn't waiting around to build his 2026 recruiting class.
Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, out of Greensboro, North Carolina, headlines the 2026 class, but the Vols are quickly adding in-state blue-chip talent to start the year.
Tennessee's in-state resume is looking good so far, with three top-10 recruits committing to the program. The most recent commit is three-star offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda, who committed to Tennessee at the Navy All-American Game over the weekend. He's currently the No. 10 player in the state and the No. 25 offensive lineman of the 2026 class.
Knoxville's own Tyreek King, four-star wide receiver, is the No. 3 player in the state and the No. 18 wide receiver in the country. Tennessee also earned the commitment from four-star tight end Carson Sneed, the No. 6 player in the state and the No. 11 tight end in the country.
Tennessee also leads in recruiting for three other top-ten recruits out of the Volunteer State. Winning in-state recruiting battles is vital to becoming a consistent contender, and Heupel is prioritizing in-state recruits to start the 2026 recruiting cycle.