Tennessee’s tight end room just got a little clearer for the long view.
Ethan Davis confirmed on Sept. 21 that he plans to return to the Vols in 2027 after recovering from the torn ACL that ended his 2026 season. He made the announcement on X with a graphic and a short message: "I'm coming back."
A second post on the same day made the decision even more explicit. Davis wrote, "Still food on the table! Last ride vol nation I’ll bleed orange and white 25/8, let’s make it count!"
Davis had already hinted on Sept. 18 that he expected to come back for one more season, but this latest message removed any doubt.
His season is over after the knee injury he suffered in Tennessee’s 45-24 win over Georgia Tech on Sept. 12. Davis became the fifth UT player to go down with a season-ending injury, joining starting safety Edrees Farooq (knee), backup receiver Joakim Dodson (leg), reserve linebacker Jaedon Harmon (knee) and Miami transfer cornerback Jadais Richard (upper-body).
That’s the bad news for Tennessee right now. The better news is that the Vols can start factoring Davis into their 2027 plans, and that matters because he has been one of the more productive pass-catching tight ends on the roster when healthy.
In 26 games with six starts, Davis has 39 catches for 433 yards and six touchdowns. The challenge, as always with Davis, has been availability. Injuries have followed him through much of his Tennessee career, even with the redshirt year he used in 2023.
Under the NCAA’s new 5-for-5 structure, Davis can come back in 2027 and use his fifth year of eligibility.
What his role looks like then will depend in part on how Tennessee’s current tight ends develop this season. South Alabama transfer Trent Thomas is a senior, though he could also return in 2027 under the same rule. Sophomore DaSaahn Brame is trying to grow into Davis’ old job as the athletic receiving threat, but he has only one catch for 7 yards so far this season.
Freshman Luca Wolf, who UT found at the NFL UK Academy near London, is another name to watch. The Austria native is viewed as a promising athlete and developmental tight end, and Davis’ injury should mean more snaps for him. Junior Cole Harrison and UT Martin transfer Drake Martinez fill out the position group.
Martinez is the only tight end on the current roster who is set to run out of eligibility after this season. Tennessee could still add or lose tight ends through the transfer portal, so the group is far from locked in.
One more future piece is already on the way. Oak Ridge standout Malik Howard is committed to sign with Tennessee in December, and the 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 9 tight end in the 2027 class.
For now, though, Tennessee knows one thing for certain: Davis intends to be back in orange and white in 2027.
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Tennessee-Texas Just Got Even Bigger For Neyland Fans
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The atmosphere figures to match the billing, too, with the stadium sold out and fans being asked to dress in orange or white depending on where they sit. It is the kind of setup that has made Knoxville a regular stop for GameDay over the years, and the combination of a packed house, a national audience and a No. 1 opponent gives Tennessee a chance to make the day feel even bigger before the game itself begins. [Read more 🡒]