Roster Construction 2026

I’ve heard as many as 6. No clearinghouse as House Settlement just said schools must “act in good faith”. No limits to DSAs but schools will have to obviously fund scholarships and related athletic costs. 6 would give you 40 which I’m surprised TN didn’t request.
I have no clue how it works just going off what I’ve been told - it’s all so confusing. I think the list submitted to the NCAA could be higher than the number they intend to keep around and the rest they will tell have to find a new spot.

I originally heard 37 would be on the roster and recently some people saying there’s a little wiggle room for it to go higher. I genuinely have no idea
 
Mckee said on today's pod that he thinks Blaine Brown will hit in the 3-5 hole. Said he's one of the most underrated transfers in the country.
He’s very good. My only question is if he pops as a pitcher do they have him focus more on that. It’ll all depend on how other positions play out

There’s going to be guys who are extremely good that don’t play nearly as much as they are capable - just how it is when you look at the numbers. Makes it nearly impossible to predict a lineup because there’s too many variations

The spot I am watching is 3B. Does Grimmer lock that down or do they have to slide someone else there, which potentially opens a spot at 2B or in LF. Or does a surprise 3B candidate like Myatt or Ethan Moore emerge.

All questions we probably won’t even have the answer to until SEC play begins next year
 
I have no clue how it works just going off what I’ve been told - it’s all so confusing. I think the list submitted to the NCAA could be higher than the number they intend to keep around and the rest they will tell have to find a new spot.

I originally heard 37 would be on the roster and recently some people saying there’s a little wiggle room for it to go higher. I genuinely have no idea
It’s not as complicated as everyone in the media seems to claim. Most of them simply have not bothered to read the ruling. For everyone’s benefit, here’s the specifics on DSAs:
1) DSAs are to limit adverse impact to 2025 freshmen signees or players that played last year that would be cut due to new roster cap of 34 for 2026 season
2) DSAs can enter DSA transfer portal open from 7/7/25 to 8/5/25 and transfer without counting on roster for remainder of their playing careers. (Same rule if they chose to stay at their current school).
3) Schools had to submit their DSA list by 7/6/25 (no limit on DSAs but schools were to “act in good faith”. Schools will have to fund the extra scholarships and related athletic costs associated with DSAs.
4) Since DSA rule was to ensure no one lost a roster spot due to House Settlement and accompanying new roster cap of 34, I would personally THINK that no school could designate more than 6 DSAs since previous roster cap was 40.
 
taylorvol said:
BaseVols Roster 2025 / 2026 (Updated 7/23/25)

PlayerYearPositionBats26 Status
2 Ariel AntiguaSophSS, 2B, 3BRRoster
8 Hunter HighSophOFLeftRoster
10 Jay AbernathyFrCF, 2BLeftRoster
14 Blake GrimmerR Fr3B, 1BLeftRoster
15 Manny MarinFrSS,3BRRoster
21 Tegun KuhnsFrRHP/Weekend StarterRoster
27 Stone LawlessR FrC,1B,DHRRoster
30 Levi ClarkFr1B,DH,CRRoster
40 Jaxon WalkerFrOFLeftRoster
41 Chris NewstromFr2B,3B,OFRRoster
42 Brennon SeiglerFrOFRRoster
44 Nic AbrahamFrRHPRoster
Anton Seibert**FrRHPRoster
Brayden KrenzelFrRHPRoster
Brandon ArvidsonR SophLHPRoster
Reese ChapmanJrRFRoster
Bo RhudySophRHPTransfer In
Tyler MyattR FreshDH,LFTransfer In (JUCO)
Brady FrederickSophRHPTransfer In
Garrett WrightSophC/OFTransfer In
Henry FordSoph1B/OFTransfer In
Blaine BrownFreshmanDH/OF/LHPTransfer In
Landon MackFreshmanRHPTransfer In
Evan BlancoJuniorLHPTransfer In
Mark HindyJuniorLHPTransfer In
Finley BatesSoph2B/SSTransfer In
NOTES:
42 now on projected roster.
16 Returnees
10 Portal Transfers IN (incl 2 JUCOs). 4 Drafted by MLB
25 Portal OUT (counting Osuna)
26 on 2026 projected Roster (Before incoming freshmen signees)
16 Incoming Freshmen Signees (removed Tyler Wood)= 42 on roster. Expect 37 on 2026 Roster (34 + 3 DSAs)
 
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PS. Just interesting to me…D1 Baseball shows Dalton Bargo entered portal on 7/29. He wasn’t a DSA so not sure how this happened. I wonder if NCAA is granting DSA exceptions post 7/6/25 due to exceptional circumstances? If this is true, perhaps TN will get a DSA for Chapman? Rumor is TN might get 5 DSAs bringing the 2026 roster to 39. We will see….IMG_9015.jpeg
 
I haven’t found an official announcement on Tyler Wood but 100% he’s not coming to Rocky Top. I just checked again and only found this as confirmation.
IMG_3677.jpeg
 
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PS. Just interesting to me…D1 Baseball shows Dalton Bargo entered portal on 7/29. He wasn’t a DSA so not sure how this happened. I wonder if NCAA is granting DSA exceptions post 7/6/25 due to exceptional circumstances? If this is true, perhaps TN will get a DSA for Chapman? Rumor is TN might get 5 DSAs bringing the 2026 roster to 39. We will see….View attachment 760558
Ben McKee on the Diamond Vols Pod said that it sounds like Bargo is going to enroll at NCSU as a regular student and then eventually join the baseball team. Essentially start like a walk-on would.

That’s probably why you don’t see him in the portal
 
Ben McKee on the Diamond Vols Pod said that it sounds like Bargo is going to enroll at NCSU as a regular student and then eventually join the baseball team. Essentially start like a walk-on would.

That’s probably why you don’t see him in the portal
You misread my post. D1 shows Bargo entered the portal on 7/29/25. The summer portal has been closed. The only portal that is open is the DSA portal. TN did NOT declare Bargo as a DSA….
 
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