Roster Construction 2026

#53
#53
rockytop25 said:
It sounds like he wanted pretty close to a guarantee of a starting spot.

Anderson & Tony just don’t do that kind of stuff. Heck, they wouldn’t even do it for Chase Burns
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He did not ask for a guaranteed starter role. He has a desire to be a starter and wants to compete for that role. He was not going to be given that opportunity. So he did the right thing for his own career.
 
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#54
#54
6-4-3 said:
He did not ask for a guaranteed starter role. He has a desire to be a starter and wants to compete for that role. He was not going to be given that opportunity. So he did the right thing for his own career.
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This speaks well of TN’s integrity and obviously that of CTV and staff. They obviously didn’t see Loy as a weekend starter and weren’t going to string him along with false promises or false hope. Loy will do well at GT.
 
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#55
#55
taylorvol said:
Updated 7/6/25
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Updated.

taylorvol said:
BaseVols Roster 2025 / 2026 (Updated 7/6/25)

PlayerYearPositionBats26 Status
1 Dean Curley SophSS, 3BRMLB
2 Ariel AntiguaSophSS, 2B, 3BRRoster
5 Cannon PeeblesJrC, DHSwitchMLB
6 Gavin Kilen Jr2B, SSLeftMLB
7 Nate SneadJrRHP/Weekend CloserMLB
8 Hunter HighSophUTLLeftRoster
9 Hunter Ensley R Sr CF RGraduated/MLB
10 Jay AbernathyFrCF, 2BLeftRoster
11 Andrew FischerJr 3B,1BLeftMLB
12 Liam DoyleJrLHP/Weekend StarterMLB
13 Reese ChapmanJrRFLeftMLB
14 Blake GrimmerR Fr3B, 1BLeftRoster
15 Manny MarinFr3B, SS, 2BRRoster
16 Dalton Bargo Jr 1B,C,RF,3B,LF,DHLeftMLB?
17 Thomas CrabtreeSoRHPPORTAL
18 Austin BreedloveJrRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
19 Andrew BehnkeJrLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
20 Colby BackusR SrLF/DHRGraduated/Portal
21 Tegun KuhnsFrRHP/Weekend StarterRoster
23 Marcus PhillipsJrRHP/Weekend StarterMLB
25 Brandon ArvidsonJrLHP/Weekend ReliefMLB
27 Stone LawlessR FrC,1B,DHRRoster
28 Ryan CombsJrRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
29 Aidan HayseFrRHPPORTAL
30 Levi ClarkFrDH,1B, CRRoster
31 Austin HunleyR SophRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
32 Tate StricklandFrRHPPORTAL
33 Brayden MayR FrLHPPORTAL
33 AJ RussellJrRHP/Weekend Relief (late March)MLB
35 Michael SharmanR JrLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
37 Dylan LoySophLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
38 Brooks WrightFrCRPORTAL
40 Jaxon WalkerFrOFLeftRoster
41 Chris NewstromFrUTLRRoster
42 Brennon SeiglerFrOFRRoster
43 Luke PayneSoLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
44 Nic AbrahamFrRHPRoster
45 Stratton ScottFrRHPPORTAL
45 Tanner WigginsSophRHPPORTAL
46 Brayden SharpR FrOF,LHP/Weekend ReliefLeftPORTAL
48 Robinson MartinFrINFRPORTAL
50 Tanner FranklinJrRHP/Weekend ReliefMLB
Dane MorrowFrUTLLeftPORTAL
Jackson JonesFr1B,3B,OFRPORTAL
Ryler Smart**FrLHPPORTAL
Andrew Dumont**FrRHPPORTAL
Beau RevordFrLFLeftPORTAL
Anton Seibert**FrRHPRoster
Bryson ThackerR FrLHPPORTAL
Brayden KrenzelFrRHPRoster
Dane BjornR FrLHPPORTAL
Alberto Osuna*Grad1B/DHRightPORTAL
Ben MartinFrRHPPORTAL
Clay EdmondsonJrRHPTransfer In$
Mason EstradaSophRHPTransfer In$
Bo RhudySophRHPTransfer In
Tyler MyattINFTransfer In$ (JUCO)
Matt BarrSophRHPTransfer In$ (JUCO)
Brady FrederickSophRHPTransfer In
Garrett WrightC/OFTransfer In
DJ NewmanOF/RHPTransfer In
Henry Ford1B/OFTransfer In$
Blaine BrownFreshmanDH/OF/LHPTransfer In
Landon MackRHPTransfer In
Evan BlancoLHPTransfer In
NOTES:
$ = MLB draft risk for 2026 Portal commits
14 Returnees
12 Portal Transfers IN (incl 2 JUCOs)
26 Portal OUT (counting Osuna)
26 on 2026 projected Roster (Before incoming freshmen signees)
25 Incoming Freshmen Signees
 
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#56
#56
taylorvol said:
Updated.

taylorvol said:
BaseVols Roster 2025 / 2026 (Updated 7/6/25)

PlayerYearPositionBats26 Status
1 Dean Curley SophSS, 3BRMLB
2 Ariel AntiguaSophSS, 2B, 3BRRoster
5 Cannon PeeblesJrC, DHSwitchMLB
6 Gavin Kilen Jr2B, SSLeftMLB
7 Nate SneadJrRHP/Weekend CloserMLB
8 Hunter HighSophUTLLeftRoster
9 Hunter Ensley R Sr CF RGraduated/MLB
10 Jay AbernathyFrCF, 2BLeftRoster
11 Andrew FischerJr 3B,1BLeftMLB
12 Liam DoyleJrLHP/Weekend StarterMLB
13 Reese ChapmanJrRFLeftMLB
14 Blake GrimmerR Fr3B, 1BLeftRoster
15 Manny MarinFr3B, SS, 2BRRoster
16 Dalton Bargo Jr 1B,C,RF,3B,LF,DHLeftMLB?
17 Thomas CrabtreeSoRHPPORTAL
18 Austin BreedloveJrRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
19 Andrew BehnkeJrLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
20 Colby BackusR SrLF/DHRGraduated/Portal
21 Tegun KuhnsFrRHP/Weekend StarterRoster
23 Marcus PhillipsJrRHP/Weekend StarterMLB
25 Brandon ArvidsonJrLHP/Weekend ReliefMLB
27 Stone LawlessR FrC,1B,DHRRoster
28 Ryan CombsJrRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
29 Aidan HayseFrRHPPORTAL
30 Levi ClarkFrDH,1B, CRRoster
31 Austin HunleyR SophRHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
32 Tate StricklandFrRHPPORTAL
33 Brayden MayR FrLHPPORTAL
33 AJ RussellJrRHP/Weekend Relief (late March)MLB
35 Michael SharmanR JrLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
37 Dylan LoySophLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
38 Brooks WrightFrCRPORTAL
40 Jaxon WalkerFrOFLeftRoster
41 Chris NewstromFrUTLRRoster
42 Brennon SeiglerFrOFRRoster
43 Luke PayneSoLHP/Weekend ReliefPORTAL
44 Nic AbrahamFrRHPRoster
45 Stratton ScottFrRHPPORTAL
45 Tanner WigginsSophRHPPORTAL
46 Brayden SharpR FrOF,LHP/Weekend ReliefLeftPORTAL
48 Robinson MartinFrINFRPORTAL
50 Tanner FranklinJrRHP/Weekend ReliefMLB
Dane MorrowFrUTLLeftPORTAL
Jackson JonesFr1B,3B,OFRPORTAL
Ryler Smart**FrLHPPORTAL
Andrew Dumont**FrRHPPORTAL
Beau RevordFrLFLeftPORTAL
Anton Seibert**FrRHPRoster
Bryson ThackerR FrLHPPORTAL
Brayden KrenzelFrRHPRoster
Dane BjornR FrLHPPORTAL
Alberto Osuna*Grad1B/DHRightPORTAL
Ben MartinFrRHPPORTAL
Clay EdmondsonJrRHPTransfer In$
Mason EstradaSophRHPTransfer In$
Bo RhudySophRHPTransfer In
Tyler MyattINFTransfer In$ (JUCO)
Matt BarrSophRHPTransfer In$ (JUCO)
Brady FrederickSophRHPTransfer In
Garrett WrightC/OFTransfer In
DJ NewmanOF/RHPTransfer In
Henry Ford1B/OFTransfer In$
Blaine BrownFreshmanDH/OF/LHPTransfer In
Landon MackRHPTransfer In
Evan BlancoLHPTransfer In
NOTES:
$ = MLB draft risk for 2026 Portal commits
14 Returnees
12 Portal Transfers IN (incl 2 JUCOs)
26 Portal OUT (counting Osuna)
26 on 2026 projected Roster (Before incoming freshmen signees)
25 Incoming Freshmen Signees
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@taylorvol Would it make sense to remove the Portal Out players from the list?
 
#57
#57
Gilbert said:
So by my count, including returning players, portal commits, juco commits, and incoming freshman, the roster currently sits at 45 guys. I know some won’t make it to campus and we probably get more guys from the portal, so it’s still all fluid at this point.

Does anyone know when the roster has to be at the 34 number? Is it in August or after fall semester? If it’s early, how does the staff make decisions on the incoming freshman? It seems like you wouldn’t get a chance to see what you’ve got before decisions had to be made.

I know UT has oversigned every year and the new rules will cut down on that, but not a huge fan of the roster number changes. The one positive for me is we probably get an official roster a lot sooner now instead of early to mid February like we’re accustomed to😄.
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They have to be to 38 before fall semester and 34 by spring. But there’s some super grey area on exactly who counts towards those numbers.

They have a few incoming recruits who just had surgery and they think they can hold them without them counting
 
#60
#60
tn4elvis said:
Then give him a chance as as starter.
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Well they don’t see him as one. Not even a knock on him - you have to be absurdly good to be a weekend starter here.

They were honest with him about the role that they saw him in, and he didn’t want that role so he’s going to go compete for a starting role. Nobody is in the wrong here

Hopefully he wins one and kills it

The role he had is not easy and not everyone makes it look as easy as Kirby did. He essentially got hot every single weekend game and a few midweeks. Arm was sore all the time - he just wanted to be a starter/long relief guy who throws one time a week but that’s not how they envisioned him
 
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#61
#61
WGWTFA98 said:
They have to be to 38 before fall semester and 34 by spring. But there’s some super grey area on exactly who counts towards those numbers.

They have a few incoming recruits who just had surgery and they think they can hold them without them counting
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As I understand it, if you are on an athletic scholarship you must be rostered and count against the limit.
 
#62
#62
UT IE 95 said:
As I understand it, if you are on an athletic scholarship you must be rostered and count against the limit.
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What if you aren't on athletic scholarship? Can NIL make up for the difference and not count against the 34?
 
#64
#64
UT IE 95 said:
As I understand it, if you are on an athletic scholarship you must be rostered and count against the limit.
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I’m just telling you what they think.. I have no clue how it works - I don’t think anyone fully understands it.
 
#66
#66
Vols330 said:
What if you aren't on athletic scholarship? Can NIL make up for the difference and not count against the 34?
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Yes, but you can't be rostered. Right now teams are "designating" players as student athletes. They can be compensated, but not on athletic scholarship or rostered.
 
#67
#67
WGWTFA98 said:
I’m just telling you what they think.. I have no clue how it works - I don’t think anyone fully understands it.
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Agreed. It's the wild west and every school has their lawyers figuring out ways to find the cracks for advantage.
 
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#69
#69
Ariel Antigua is crushing the ball in the Appy League. He’s hitting .565 with an OPS 1.368 in 46 plate appearances with 5 doubles, a triple, and a HR. Only 3 Ks and a fielding % of 1.000 mostly at SS but with a couple of games at 2B. Extremely impressive and if he stays healthy, he will be TN’s starting SS in 26.
 
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#73
#73
taylorvol said:
Ariel Antigua is crushing the ball in the Appy League. He’s hitting .565 with an OPS 1.368 in 46 plate appearances with 5 doubles, a triple, and a HR. Only 3 Ks and a fielding % of 1.000 mostly at SS but with a couple of games at 2B. Extremely impressive and if he stays healthy, he will be TN’s starting SS in 26.
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Great to hear!
 
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#75
#75
taylorvol said:
Ariel Antigua is crushing the ball in the Appy League. He’s hitting .565 with an OPS 1.368 in 46 plate appearances with 5 doubles, a triple, and a HR. Only 3 Ks and a fielding % of 1.000 mostly at SS but with a couple of games at 2B. Extremely impressive and if he stays healthy, he will be TN’s starting SS in 26.
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If he stays healthy is the key statement here. I am rooting for him to be the guy but he has to stay healthy this fall.
 
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