2026 Board - Mid May

With 2024 game/campus visits and now January 2025 UVs in the books, figured it was a good time to set the 2026 board for going forward. There's a roughly monthlong dead period that extends into early March after next weekend, so the next big visit weekends will come during spring practice. After that there will be Orange Carpet Day 2025, and then OVs.

Therefore this board is just a start and will be added to and further refined. But here's how I see it as of now. I'm sure I've left some guys off so please feel free to let me know.

FWIW, the way this class is currently set with our existing commitments and the degree to which we're already deeply involved with a myriad of elite prospects, IMO there's a real chance we end up in the Top 5 but that the floor is absolutely another Top 10 ranking.

QB
Faizon Brandon (Vol commit)

RB
Savion Hiter (UV 4/5, OV 6/20)
Jonaz Walton (UV 4/7, OV 6/20)
Amari Latimer (UV 3/29)

WR
Tyreek King (Vol commit, OV 6/20)
Tyran Evans (Vol commit, OV 6/20)

Joel Wyatt (ATH, UV 3/29, OV 6/7)
Chris Stewart (Texas commit, 6/20 OV)
Craig Dandridge (UV 3/15, OV 6/13)
Jerquaden Guiliford (OV 6/13)

TE
Carson Sneed (Vol "commit", OV 6/20)
Matt Ludwig (UV 4/5, OV 5/30)

IOL
Edward Baker (UV 4/5, 865 Live, OV 6/67)
Brandon Anderson (865 Live, OV 6/20)
Brock Kolojay (OV 6/20)
Darius Gray (UV 3/12, OV 6/7)
Deacon Schmitt (OV 6/20)
Gnivre Carr (UV 4/12, OV 6/20)

OT
Gabriel Osenda (Vol commit OV 6/20)
Leo Delaney (UV 3/29 & 4/12, OV 6/20)
Tommy Tofi (UV 4/5, OV 6/20)
John Turntine III (OV 6/13)
Brody Smith (OV 6/13)
Jax Tanner (OV 6/13)
Kamari Blair (865 Live)

DL
Tyson Bacon (UV 3/12, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Anthony Jones (OV 6/20)
Keshawn Stancil (UV 3/29, OV 6/13)
JJ Finch (UV 3/27, OV 6/13)
Emanuel Ruffin (UV 3/29, OV 6/13)
Keytrin Harris (OV 6/13)
Dereon Albert (OV 6/16-18)
Tico Crittendon (OV 6/20)
Darryl Rivers (OV 6/20)
Iverson Garcia (865 Live)

Edge
CJ Edwards (Vol commit- 6/20 OV)
Zach Groves (UV 3/8, 865 Live, 6/13 OV)
Tristian Givens (OV 6/7)
Dre Quinn (UV 4/5, 6/20 OV)
Hezekiah Harris (4/12 UV, 6/20 OV - AU commit)
Keysaun Eleazer (UV 3/12, 865 Live, OV 6/6)

LB
Braylon Outlaw (Vol commit, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Braylon Rouse (4/12 UV, OV 6/20)
Rodney Colton (4/12 UV, OV 6/13)
TJ White (4/5 UV, OV 6/13)
Kedric Golston II (OV 6/7)
Xavier Griffin (UV 3/29, USC commit)

CB
Zay Anderson (UV 3/31, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Jaziel Harris (6/13 OV)
Zyan Gibson (UV 3/25, 865 Live, OV 6/13 -Bama commit)
Javonte Smith (OV 6/20)
Nick Hankins (UV 4/12, OV 6/13)
Jamyan Theodore (865 Live, OV 6/13)
Khmari Bing (OV 6/6)

S
Craig Tutt (UV 3/8, 4/12, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Joey O'Brien (UV 3/8, OV 6/13)
Salesi Moa (OV 6/20)
Jowell Combay (UV 3/29, OV 6/20)
Thinking through who I think we lead - or are at least at the very top of the list for with 865 Live coming up this weekend:

RB
Savion Hiter

WR
Craig Dandridge

ATH
Joel Wyatt

IOL
Edward Baker
Brandon Anderson
Darius Gray
Gnivre Carr

OT
Leo Delaney
Brody Smith
Kamari Blair

DL
Zach Groves
Tyson Bacon
Keshawn Stancil
JJ Finch
Emanuel Ruffin
Iverson Garcia

Edge
Keysaun Eleazer
Tristian Givens

LB
Braylon Outlaw (Vol commit, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Braylon Rouse (4/12 UV, OV 6/20)
Rodney Colton (4/12 UV, OV 6/13)
TJ White (4/5 UV, OV 6/13)
Kedric Golston II (OV 6/7)
Xavier Griffin (UV 3/29, USC commit)

CB
Zay Anderson
Javonte Smith
Jamyan Theodore
Zyan Gibson

S
Craig Tutt
Jowell Combay
 
I know its early but last year we signed 16 4 stars and 1 5 star according to 247 composite. Do you think we can exceed that this year? @jvols1999.
 
"(Along with Edward Baker), I think Tennessee is also in good shape with Leo Delaney and G’nivre Carr. That’s not to say the Vols definitely lead for both of those guys, but I think they’re at least one of the teams at the top of the list for each of those.

Really, though, I think Tennessee has a realistic shot at several guys. Darius Gray, Deacon Schmitt, Breck Kolojay, Tommy Tofi, Brandon Anderson and Brody Smith all look like legitimate options going into their official visits, so the Vols have a pretty healthy board there going into the summer. And we’ll see if they can pull an upset for someone like (John) Turntine, who did come away impressed after his trip to Knoxville in January."

-Callahan

OL board in really good shape heading into 865 Live and May/June OVs, especially with the #70 overall player (per 247) committed in Gabe Osenda.
that's good news
 
With 2024 game/campus visits and now January 2025 UVs in the books, figured it was a good time to set the 2026 board for going forward. There's a roughly monthlong dead period that extends into early March after next weekend, so the next big visit weekends will come during spring practice. After that there will be Orange Carpet Day 2025, and then OVs.

Therefore this board is just a start and will be added to and further refined. But here's how I see it as of now. I'm sure I've left some guys off so please feel free to let me know.

FWIW, the way this class is currently set with our existing commitments and the degree to which we're already deeply involved with a myriad of elite prospects, IMO there's a real chance we end up in the Top 5 but that the floor is absolutely another Top 10 ranking.

QB
Faizon Brandon (Vol commit)

RB
Savion Hiter (UV 4/5, OV 6/20)
Jonaz Walton (UV 4/7, OV 6/20)
Amari Latimer (UV 3/29)

WR
Tyreek King (Vol commit, OV 6/20)
Tyran Evans (Vol commit, OV 6/20)

Joel Wyatt (ATH, UV 3/29, 865 Live, OV 6/6)
Legend Bey (OV 6/6)
Craig Dandridge (UV 3/15, OV 6/13)
Jerquaden Guiliford (OV 6/13)
Chris Stewart (Texas commit, 6/20 OV)

TE
Carson Sneed (Vol "commit", OV 6/20)
Matt Ludwig (UV 4/5, OV 5/30)

IOL
Edward Baker (UV 4/5, 865 Live, OV 6/67)
Brandon Anderson (865 Live, OV 6/20)
Brock Kolojay (OV 6/20)
Darius Gray (UV 3/12, OV 6/7)
Deacon Schmitt (OV 6/20)
Gnivre Carr (UV 4/12, OV 6/20)

OT
Gabriel Osenda (Vol commit OV 6/20)
Leo Delaney (UV 3/29 & 4/12, OV 6/20)
Tommy Tofi (UV 4/5, OV 6/20)
Brody Smith (OV 6/13)
Jax Tanner (OV 6/13)
Kamari Blair (865 Live)

DL
Tyson Bacon (UV 3/12, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Anthony Jones (OV 6/20)
Keshawn Stancil (UV 3/29, OV 6/13)
JJ Finch (UV 3/27, OV 6/13)
Emanuel Ruffin (UV 3/29, OV 6/13)
Keytrin Harris (OV 6/13)
Dereon Albert (OV 6/16-18)
Tico Crittendon (OV 6/20)
Darryl Rivers (OV 6/20)
Iverson Garcia (865 Live)

Edge
CJ Edwards (Vol commit- 6/20 OV)
Zach Groves (UV 3/8, 865 Live, 6/13 OV)
Tristian Givens (OV 6/7)
Dre Quinn (UV 4/5, 6/20 OV)
Hezekiah Harris (4/12 UV, 6/20 OV - AU commit)
Keysaun Eleazer (UV 3/12, 865 Live, OV 6/6)

LB
Braylon Outlaw (Vol commit, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Braylon Rouse (4/12 UV, OV 6/20)
Rodney Colton (4/12 UV, OV 6/13)
TJ White (4/5 UV, OV 6/13)
Kedric Golston II (865 Live, OV 6/7)
Xavier Griffin (UV 3/29, USC commit)

CB
Zay Anderson (UV 3/31, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Jaziel Harris (6/13 OV)
Zyan Gibson (UV 3/25, 865 Live, OV 6/13 -Bama commit)
Javonte Smith (OV 6/20)
Nick Hankins (UV 4/12, OV 6/13)
Jamyan Theodore (865 Live, OV 6/13)
Khmari Bing (OV 6/6)

S
Craig Tutt (UV 3/8, 4/12, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Joey O'Brien (UV 3/8, OV 6/13)
Salesi Moa (OV 6/20)
Jowell Combay (UV 3/29, OV 6/20)
man thanks for putting this together
 
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Thinking through who I think we lead - or are at least at the very top of the list for with 865 Live coming up this weekend:

RB
Savion Hiter

WR
Craig Dandridge

ATH
Joel Wyatt

IOL
Edward Baker
Brandon Anderson
Darius Gray
Gnivre Carr

OT
Leo Delaney
Brody Smith
Kamari Blair

DL
Zach Groves
Tyson Bacon
Keshawn Stancil
JJ Finch
Emanuel Ruffin
Iverson Garcia

Edge
Keysaun Eleazer
Tristian Givens

LB
Braylon Outlaw (Vol commit, 865 Live, OV 6/20)
Braylon Rouse (4/12 UV, OV 6/20)
Rodney Colton (4/12 UV, OV 6/13)
TJ White (4/5 UV, OV 6/13)
Kedric Golston II (OV 6/7)
Xavier Griffin (UV 3/29, USC commit)

CB
Zay Anderson
Javonte Smith
Jamyan Theodore
Zyan Gibson

S
Craig Tutt
Jowell Combay
Modified coming out of 865 Live:

RB
Savion Hiter

WR
Craig Dandridge

IOL
Edward Baker
Brandon Anderson
Darius Gray
G. Carr

OT
Brody Smith
Kamari Blair
JB Shabazz

DL
JJ Finch
Emanuel Ruffin
Iverson Garcia
Kedric Golston II

Edge
Tristian Givens
Dre Quinn
Hezekiah Harris
Keysaun Eleazer

LB
Braylon Rouse
Rodney Colton
TJ White


CB
Zay Anderson
Zyan Gibson
Javonte Smith
Jamyan Theodore

S
Craig Tutt
Jowell Combay
 
Modified coming out of 865 Live:

RB
Savion Hiter

WR
Craig Dandridge

IOL
Edward Baker
Brandon Anderson
Darius Gray
G. Carr

OT
Brody Smith
Kamari Blair
JB Shabazz

DL
JJ Finch
Emanuel Ruffin
Iverson Garcia
Kedric Golston II

Edge
Tristian Givens
Dre Quinn
Hezekiah Harris
Keysaun Eleazer

LB
Braylon Rouse
Rodney Colton
TJ White


CB
Zay Anderson
Zyan Gibson
Javonte Smith
Jamyan Theodore

S
Craig Tutt
Jowell Combay
That WR board makes me want to scream... Kelsey Pope can't GTFO of Knoxville fast enough
 
That WR board makes me want to scream... Kelsey Pope can't GTFO of Knoxville fast enough
I'm not a huge fan, but this isn't the full board. It's just one man's opinions of who we lead/are at the very top for, and does not include commitments at any position. And at WR we have 2 really good commitments.
 
I'm not a huge fan, but this isn't the full board. It's just one man's opinions of who we lead/are at the very top for, and does not include commitments at any position. And at WR we have 2 really good commitments.
craig dandridge is huge. will gladly take this haul plus him. really wanted Keys though.
 
That WR board makes me want to scream... Kelsey Pope can't GTFO of Knoxville fast enough
I would like to know, who are all the premium WR recruits, that might have some reasonable connection to Tennessee, that you think we are not bothering to recruit?

Not being a smartazz, just am curious to know who all those passed-over blue chips might be? 🤔
 
I would like to know, who are all the premium WR recruits, that might have some reasonable connection to Tennessee, that you think we are not bothering to recruit?

Not being a smartazz, just am curious to know who all those passed-over blue chips might be? 🤔
It's an important year for Pope. We will have to lean on at least 1 or 2 of his younger recruits. The performance of the whole room will need to be better than it was the previous two years, or I doubt Pope will be back. His contract ends after this season I believe. I've always been happy with the talent he brings in, but we need to see dividends from it.
 
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Feels like with OVs over

Feels like we lead:
4 star LB Brayden Rouse
4 star LB TJ White
4 star DT Dereon Albert
4 star IOL Brandon Anderson
3 star CB Zaydyn Anderson
3 star IOL Edward Baker

Have a solid chance to land:
5 star WR Tristen Keys
5 star RB Savion Hiter
4 star Edge Hezeikah Harris (Auburn)
4 star Edge Joel Wyatt
4 star S Craig Tutt
4 star OT Kamari Blair
3 star WR Legend Bey
3 star CB Jaymyan Theodore
3 star S Jowell Combay
3 star IOL Jax Tanner
3 star Edge Kedric Golston
Outside Chance:
5 star IOL Darius Gray
4 star WR Chris Stewart (Texas)
4 star Ath Salesi Moa
4 star CB Zyan Gibson (Bama)
4 star IOL Brock Kolojay
4 star OT JB Shabazz

Lmk if I missed anyone or have a guy in the wrong category but it certainly feels like the staff has their work cut out for them the next month if they want a top 10 class
 
Last edited:
Feels like with OVs over

Feels like we lead:
4 star LB Brayden Rouse
4 star LB TJ White
4 star DT Dereon Albert
4 star IOL Brandon Anderson
3 star CB Zaydyn Anderson
3 star IOL Edward Baker

Have a solid chance to land:
5 star WR Tristen Keys
5 star RB Savion Hiter
4 star Edge Hezeikah Harris (Auburn)
4 star Edge Joel Wyatt
4 star S Craig Tutt
4 star OT Kamari Blair
3 star WR Legend Bey
3 star CB Jaymyan Theodore
3 star S Jowell Combay
3 star IOL Jax Tanner
3 star Edge Kedric Golston
Outside Chance:
5 star IOL Darius Gray
4 star WR Chris Stewart (Texas)
4 star Ath Salesi Moa
4 star CB Zyan Gibson (Bama)
4 star IOL Brock Kolojay
4 star OT JB Shabazz

Lmk if I missed anyone or have a guy in the wrong category but it certainly feels like the staff has their work cut out for them the next month if they want a top 10 class
Looks good, Golston, Bey, Theodore and Combay I may slide up to that top category but who knows if we push for all 4 so feel like the way you have it is pretty much right.
 
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