Fatmata Janneh did not wait long to make her presence felt at Tennessee. In Tuesday’s exhibition against Florida A&M, the senior forward pulled down 13 rebounds, the most by any player on the floor, as the Lady Vols cruised to a 132-63 win. Then, two days later, the national recognition arrived.
Janneh was named to the 20-player preseason watch list for the 2027 Katrina McClain Award, which honors the top power forward in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. For Tennessee, it’s an early sign that the frontcourt addition could be a major piece right away.
Her résumé backs up the buzz. Last season at Texas A&M, Janneh averaged 11.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, leading the Aggies in rebounding and finishing second on the team in scoring. That rebounding mark ranked fifth in the SEC, and her 7.04 defensive rebounds per game placed her second in the league.
What stands out even more is what she did against conference competition. According to Tennessee’s announcement, eight of her 12 double-doubles came in SEC play. In those games, she averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Janneh’s game stretches beyond cleaning up the glass. The 6-foot-2 forward hit 29 three-pointers last season, shooting 33 percent from deep overall and 40 percent in SEC play. She also knocked down 83.8 percent of her free throws.
That combination gives Tennessee a forward who can score in more than one way, while also doing the gritty work that swings possessions. Janneh has made that part of her game a calling card. Over three college seasons, she averaged 9.8 rebounds and posted 39 double-doubles.
She is one of six SEC players on the McClain watch list. She’s also not the only Tennessee player getting preseason attention: Kaylene Smikle was named to the Cheryl Miller Award watch list Wednesday.
The Lady Vols will get another chance to see Janneh in action when they host Duquesne on Monday at 6:30 p.m. The game will stream on SECN+.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Recruiting Battle Vols Fans Will Notice
Tennessee has jumped into the mix for one of the more closely watched running back prospects in the country, as Jayshawn Mitchell trimmed his list to 15 schools and kept the Vols in the hunt after a recent offer. The William J. Brennan High School standout from San Antonio has already built a national recruitment, and Tennessee now finds itself among a group of programs still chasing a player whose production and visits have kept plenty of coaches interested.
For the Vols, Mitchell is another reminder that the running back board remains active even with other top backs already committed. Tennessee continues to push for multiple high-profile targets, and landing a player with Mitchells profile would only add to a class that has already been gaining traction at the position. The next step will be whether the Vols can turn that late entry into real momentum against a crowded field. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has One More Recruiting Battle Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Tennessees 2027 recruiting class is already taking shape with 19 commitments, and two of the names that stand out from Grayson High School are running back David Gabriel-Georges and defensive back Preston Glasco. Glasco, in particular, looks like the kind of long-term addition coaches keep circling back to - a tall, developmental cornerback with the size to help in run support and enough tools to suggest a higher ceiling down the road.
There is still at least one more battle worth watching closely, though, and it comes with an in-state wrinkle that makes it even more meaningful for the Vols. Tennessee remains in the mix for defensive lineman Joshua Lane, who is expected to choose between the Vols and Alabama, giving the staff another chance to protect home turf while trying to finish strong with a key target. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Have One Big DeSean Bishop Concern Right Now
The Heisman Trophy websites fan-driven Heisman Hopefuls section has given Tennessee supporters another reason to check in on the roster, with seven Volunteers showing up in the top five of their positional groups. Among them, DeSean Bishop has been drawing the most attention, sitting out front among the running backs and adding to the buzz around a team that already has plenty of eyes on it as the season moves forward.
The concern, though, is less about the voting and more about Bishops immediate availability after a recent injury issue. Josh Heupel said the situation is expected to settle in well for the upcoming game, but there is still a wait-and-see element for fans hoping Tennessees backfield remains intact as SEC play continues to pile up. [Read more 🡒]