Tennessee’s 2027 recruiting board could get a major boost soon, and the target at the center of it is one of the most sought-after guards in the country.
Four-star Taylor Brown is down to three schools: Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina, according to Talia Goodman. Rivals has Brown ranked as the No. 18 player in the nation, and she’s also listed as the second-best point guard in the class.
The Luhi (New York) prospect has already made official visits to Tennessee and South Carolina, and she is set to visit North Carolina on October 3rd. A commitment date has not been set, though she is expected to decide not long after that trip.
For Tennessee, Brown would be an important addition as Kim Caldwell continues trying to build out the roster pipeline after a massive offseason overhaul. The Lady Vols lost the entire roster from last season and had to lean heavily on the transfer portal to rebuild. Caldwell brought in plenty of talent, but the bigger question is how quickly that group can come together and turn into an NCAA tournament-caliber team.
The long-term plan matters just as much. Tennessee has no commits yet in the 2027 class, but Caldwell is clearly working to change that and avoid having to rely so heavily on the portal next year.
The Lady Vols also know what happens when a top recruit slips away. In the last recruiting cycle, Tennessee kept five-star Oliviyah Edwards committed until April, when she asked to be released from the University after already signing with Tennessee and later flipped to South Carolina. Tennessee can’t afford to keep losing elite prospects, especially not to an SEC rival again.
In Other News...
Tennessee Texas Finish Just Got An Official Officiating Twist
The Southeastern Conference added an officiating wrinkle to Tennessees loss to Texas, saying the Volunteers drop-kick onside attempt was handled incorrectly. The league said the kick should have drawn a five-yard penalty and a replay of the down because it was taken from behind the required 35-yard line, a violation of free-kick rules.
Even so, the correction does not change the result of Texas 20-17 win over Tennessee. For the Volunteers, it leaves one more frustrating detail attached to a game already decided by a narrow margin, even if the official ruling stops short of altering the final scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Secondary Just Took Another Brutal Hit Before Auburn
Tennessees secondary is dealing with another setback heading into Auburn, with sophomore defensive back Dylan Lewis expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season because of a foot injury he suffered against Kennesaw State. Lewis had already been listed as out in SEC availability reports before the Texas game, and he was later seen in a walking boot, a clear sign the injury was serious enough to keep him sidelined for an extended stretch.
For a defense already managing other season-ending injuries in the back end, losing Lewis only tightens the margin for error. The Vols have had to keep adjusting their depth and rotations in the secondary, and now they head into the Auburn matchup with another important piece unavailable, leaving the coaching staff to sort out how to patch together a group that has been hit hard. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Are Stuck On One Faizon Brandon Debate
Tennessees loss to Texas left plenty of fingerprints on the offense, but the loudest postgame debate has centered on Faizon Brandon and how much of the struggle was really on the quarterback. Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, yet the bigger number was the sacks, with Tennessees protection breaking down often enough to make the whole night feel hurried and uneven.
Film analyst Brooks Austin pushed back on the idea that Brandon alone was responsible, pointing to a shaky run game and the lines problems up front as part of the picture. Josh Heupel sounded similarly measured, saying Brandon may have been sped up and stressing that the answer has to come from more than one player. For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is that the debate is still open, and the film may only deepen it. [Read more 🡒]