‘26 Potential Incoming Freshman

[senorb19]

This is how the Vols incoming freshman class are currently nationally ranked:

Billy Carlson SS #3

Kruz Schoolcraft LHP #7

Cameron Appenzeller #18

Steele Hall #20

Trent Grindlinger #30

Taylor Tracey #86

Ethan Baiotto #92

Ethan Moore #93

Nathan Eisfelfer #111

Tyler Wood #130

Evan Hankins #147

Williams Haas #188

Darrell McDowell #289

Jax Bishop #329

Cash Williams #331

Sawyer Deering #348

Alex Bedford #438

Chandler Day #448

Ben Martin #483

Ari Bethea & Hutson Chance #500+

For comparison, some of the recent freshman that made an impact right away :

Levi Clark #36, Manny Marin #88, Dean Curley #129, Dylan Dreiling #293, Christian Moore #91, Drew Beam #238, Blake Burke #390, Blade Tidwell #71

This will probably be the most important draft Vitello has had since being at Tennessee. This could be the first time a top 30 freshman has made it to campus under him outside of Chase Burns (#17) and there could be 2-3. Even some of the top 100+ guys are getting a lot of draft buzz like Grindlinger, Tracey, Moore, and Eisfelder. Combine that with transfer and returning guys and we could have the most on paper talent we’ve ever had on campus. Excited to see how it turns out.

 

[cardvolfan]

This is how the Vols incoming freshman class are currently nationally ranked:

Billy Carlson SS #3

Kruz Schoolcraft LHP #7

Cameron Appenzeller #18

Steele Hall #20

Trent Grindlinger #30

Taylor Tracey #86

Ethan Baiotto #92

Ethan Moore #93

Nathan Eisfelfer #111

Tyler Wood #130

Evan Hankins #147

Williams Haas #188

Darrell McDowell #289

Jax Bishop #329

Cash Williams #331

Sawyer Deering #348

Alex Bedford #438

Chandler Day #448

Ben Martin #483

Ari Bethea & Hutson Chance #500+

For comparison, some of the recent freshman that made an impact right away :

Levi Clark #36, Manny Marin #88, Dean Curley #129, Dylan Dreiling #293, Christian Moore #91, Drew Beam #238, Blake Burke #390, Blade Tidwell #71

This will probably be the most important draft Vitello has had since being at Tennessee. This could be the first time a top 30 freshman has made it to campus under him outside of Chase Burns (#17) and there could be 2-3. Even some of the top 100+ guys are getting a lot of draft buzz like Grindlinger, Tracey, Moore, and Eisfelder. Combine that with transfer and returning guys and we could have the most on paper talent we’ve ever had on campus. Excited to see how it turns out.

Interesting information. Thank you for sharing.

 

[senorb19]

 

[senorb19]

Post-Draft Update:

Cameron Appenzeller #22
Trent Grindlinger #30
Taylor Tracey #89
Ethan Baiotto #93
Ethan Moore #94
Nathan Eisfelfer #100
Tyler Wood #139
Evan Hankins #156
Williams Haas #198
Darrell McDowell #296
Jax Bishop #337
Cash Williams #339
Sawyer Deering #357
Alex Bedford #450
Chandler Day #459
Ari Bethea & Hutson Chance #500+\



Only losing three is huge! This will be a an important class the next couple of years. First time since Burns we got a top 30 guy on campus and Grindlinger is ranked ahead of Seibert, Kuhns, & Clark last year. 6 guys in top 100 is second most under Vitello to only last year that had 7.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I know the chances were incredibly slim, but I’m always going to have a “What-If” scenario in my head if Schoolcraft had fallen just a few more picks in the draft. Would have been insane to see him in LNS.

 

[cncchris33]

Getting 6 of the top-100 kids in the country to make it to campus is pretty unreal, especially in light of the new world where the portal (where we also killed it) can push those HS kids toward the draft if they have a solid offer.

It's possible we have both the best HS class and the best portal class in the same year.

 

[TROLLVOL]

Getting top 6 of 100 in baseball. What would the equivalent be for basketball? Would baseball be pretty similar to football?

 

[Jordan Bone Enthusiast]

Getting top 6 of 100 in baseball. What would the equivalent be for basketball? Would baseball be pretty similar to football?

Way better than any other sport because most the top freshman go pro. Over 30 were picked on the first day alone most of those kids you would assume were top 100 or close

 

[cncchris33]

Getting top 6 of 100 in baseball. What would the equivalent be for basketball? Would baseball be pretty similar to football?

To put it in perspective, using Perfect Game's rankings, 39 of the top-100 were drafted and intend to sign.

Tennessee signed 6 of the remaining 61, including 2 of the top-5 (Appenzeller and Grindlinger). LSU also signed 6 of those. The SEC signed 38 of the 61.

 

[chuckiepoo]

To put it in perspective, using Perfect Game's rankings, 39 of the top-100 were drafted and intend to sign.

Tennessee signed 6 of the remaining 61, including 2 of the top-5 (Appenzeller and Grindlinger). LSU also signed 6 of those. The SEC signed 38 of the 61.

Thank you! Fantastic reduction to the nuts and bolts.

 

[WGWTFA98]

Getting top 6 of 100 in baseball. What would the equivalent be for basketball? Would baseball be pretty similar to football?

Would probably be most equivalent to signing like 5-6 five stars in football

 

[Vawlz]

Post-Draft Update:

Cameron Appenzeller #22
Trent Grindlinger #30
Taylor Tracey #89
Ethan Baiotto #93
Ethan Moore #94
Nathan Eisfelfer #100
Tyler Wood #139
Evan Hankins #156
Williams Haas #198
Darrell McDowell #296
Jax Bishop #337
Cash Williams #339
Sawyer Deering #357
Alex Bedford #450
Chandler Day #459
Ari Bethea & Hutson Chance #500+\



Only losing three is huge! This will be a an important class the next couple of years. First time since Burns we got a top 30 guy on campus and Grindlinger is ranked ahead of Seibert, Kuhns, & Clark last year. 6 guys in top 100 is second most under Vitello to only last year that had 7.

The only way it could have been better for UT is if Schoolcraft made it to campus. Really phenomenal job by Vitello and staff navigating the draft and the portal.

 

[Legion of Doom]

Awesome job by Tony V and staff. Team is loaded.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Post-Draft Update:

Cameron Appenzeller #22
Trent Grindlinger #30
Taylor Tracey #89
Ethan Baiotto #93
Ethan Moore #94
Nathan Eisfelfer #100
Tyler Wood #139
Evan Hankins #156
Williams Haas #198
Darrell McDowell #296
Jax Bishop #337
Cash Williams #339
Sawyer Deering #357
Alex Bedford #450
Chandler Day #459
Ari Bethea & Hutson Chance #500+\



Only losing three is huge! This will be a an important class the next couple of years. First time since Burns we got a top 30 guy on campus and Grindlinger is ranked ahead of Seibert, Kuhns, & Clark last year. 6 guys in top 100 is second most under Vitello to only last year that had 7.

And adding Anson Seibert is like adding another top 50 freshmen since he redshirted to heal up last year.

The talent in the freshman and sophomore classes in 2026 is better than it has ever been at Tennessee.

 

[taylorvol]

And adding Anson Seibert is like adding another top 50 freshmen since he redshirted to heal up last year.

The talent in the freshman and sophomore classes in 2026 is better than it has ever been at Tennessee.

Absolutely. To give some context, Blake Burke was ranked 390, Dylan Dreiling was 293, Drew Gilbert was 282, Jordan Beck was 345, and CMO was 90 (Source: Perfect Game)

 

[wtmvol]

Absolutely. To give some context, Blake Burke was ranked 390, Dylan Dreiling was 293, Drew Gilbert was 282, Jordan Beck was 345, and CMO was 90 (Source: Perfect Game)

I mean, those guys were ok I guess.