Tennessee’s 2028 recruiting board is still in the early stages, with the Vols holding just one commitment so far in Kaden Craft. But while Tennessee keeps working to build toward another top-10 class, Ole Miss has started making noise in a way that directly cuts into the Vols’ plans.
That trouble showed up in a hurry after the Rebels’ thrilling win over LSU last Saturday. The momentum from that weekend appears to have carried over to the recruiting trail, where two of Tennessee’s biggest 2028 targets have now ended up in Oxford.
Braylen Bedford, a four-star safety from Brentwood Academy in Tennessee who is originally from Mississippi, committed to Ole Miss on Monday. Bedford had been one of Tennessee’s key targets, and the Vols were in the mix with Kentucky and Vanderbilt as well. He was on hand for the Ole Miss-LSU game on Saturday before making his decision.
Not long after that, Ole Miss landed another Tennessee target. Giovanni Tuggle, a four-star safety from Georgia, committed to the Rebels on Wednesday.
Tennessee had been in his top five, and he had told me on Friday that the Vols were among his leading options. But after his game-day visit to Oxford on Saturday, he chose another path.
Tuggle had been planning to visit Tennessee for the Alabama game in a few weeks.
The Rebels may not be done yet, either. Rivals has logged a prediction for Ole Miss to land Antwaun Adams, another Tennessee prospect.
Adams, a four-star receiver at the Baylor School, has drawn attention not just for his play, but for his nickname: “cornbread.” If Ole Miss does end up winning that battle too, it would be another major blow for Tennessee, especially with Adams coming from inside the state.
In Other News...
College GameDay Guest Picker For Tennessee Texas Could Spark Vols Debate
ESPNs College GameDay is headed to Knoxville for Tennessees showdown with Texas on Sept. 26, and the familiar guessing game is already underway around who will handle the celebrity guest picker role. When the show comes to a host campus, it usually leans into local flavor, and Tennessee has no shortage of recognizable names to choose from after years of memorable selections that mixed sports, music and comedy.
Rick Barnes, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney are among the names being floated, which gives the Vols plenty to debate before the cameras ever arrive. The decision will matter less for the picks than for the vibe, since GameDay guest spots tend to become part of the weekends identity, especially when a major SEC matchup brings the kind of attention Knoxville is about to get. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Kaleb Beasley Is Creating An Uncomfortable Tennessee Question
Kaleb Beasleys move from Tennessee to Louisville has already turned into one of those transfer stories that lingers a little longer for Vols fans. The Nashville product was once viewed as a highly rated local recruit, and after spending time as a backup safety in Knoxville, he has started to find a bigger stage elsewhere. His recent showing in Louisvilles win over SMU made sure the attention followed him, because he was all over the field and came away with a performance that drew national and conference recognition.
For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is simple: Beasley is suddenly looking like the kind of defensive back the Vols could have used. He led Louisville in tackles and picked off two passes in that game, then added the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors to the resume. When a former in-state recruit starts stacking that kind of production after leaving town, it naturally invites a second look at how his path unfolded and what it means for the roster Tennessee is trying to build now. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Just Added More Emotion To Tennessee Vs Texas
Rick Barnes added a little more emotion to an already charged matchup by leaning into the history on both sides before Tennessee meets Texas. The Volunteers coach spent 17 years running the Longhorns program, so his perspective on this one comes with a built-in layer of familiarity, and he made clear he still carries good memories from that time while also showing appreciation for the athletic directors at both schools.
Barnes, though, left no doubt where his focus sits now. Ahead of the game, he spoke as a coach invested in Tennessee and its basketball program, which gives this meeting a little extra edge beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. For Tennessee fans, it is another reminder that this game is more than a reunion for Barnes, even if the details of that Texas connection still linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]