Tennessee Wraps Up 2026 Recruiting Cycle with Top-10 Class, Adds Local Talent on National Signing Day
National Signing Day doesn’t carry quite the same weight it once did-thanks to the rise of the Early Signing Period-but that doesn’t mean it was a quiet day for Tennessee. The Vols added four more names to their 2026 signing class on Wednesday, rounding out a group that now ranks among the best in the country.
When the dust settled, Tennessee’s class landed at No. 8 nationally in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. That’s not just a solid finish-it’s the highest-ranked class Josh Heupel has signed since arriving in Knoxville five years ago, and the program’s best since 2015, when Butch Jones' staff pulled together a class that finished No. 4.
The Vols also held firm in the SEC pecking order, wrapping up with the conference’s No. 4 class behind Alabama (No. 3), Georgia (No. 6), and Texas (No.
7). Texas edged Tennessee earlier in the week after the final update to 247Sports’ player rankings nudged the Longhorns ahead, but the margin between the two programs is razor-thin-just 0.09 points separates them in the Composite rankings.
Tennessee’s 2026 class is headlined by three five-star prospects and 10 four-star signees, according to 247Sports. That kind of top-end talent gives the Vols a strong foundation heading into the future, especially when paired with the depth they added across several key positions.
Much of the buzz back in December’s Early Signing Period came when Tennessee surged into the top five after flipping three high-profile commitments: former Ohio State pledge Legend Bey, ex-UCLA edge rusher commit Carter Gooden, and Alabama defensive line decommit JJ Finch. The Vols also picked up four-star edge rusher Jordan Carter, who had previously been committed to Texas A&M.
But recruiting is never static. Bey ended up back with Ohio State after being released from his Tennessee commitment, and four-star wide receiver Salesi Moa flipped from Tennessee to Utah on Early Signing Day. Moa was later released by the Utes and followed former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to Michigan.
Even with those departures, Tennessee’s class remains strong-and deep. All 31 signees have already put pen to paper, giving the Vols a full class heading into the offseason. Their team score of 290.49 keeps them firmly in the top 10, with Miami (No. 9) trailing by more than five points and Texas A&M (No. 10) sitting seven points back.
Wednesday’s additions didn’t shake up the rankings much, but they did add some valuable depth and local flavor. Tennessee signed three in-state prospects: wide receiver JaColby Cooper from Alcoa High School, offensive lineman Jeremy George-El out of Knoxville Catholic, and wideout Lane Cope from Eagleton College and Career Academy in Maryville. All three bring versatility and developmental upside, and their commitments reflect Heupel’s continued emphasis on keeping top regional talent close to home.
The Vols also landed running back Will Rajecki from Sequoyah High School in Canton, Georgia. A former Memphis commit, Rajecki had offers from nearly 30 programs and played in the Navy All-American Bowl last month.
At 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, he’s a sturdy, downhill runner who chose Tennessee over Georgia Southern and Arkansas. He becomes the Vols’ first running back signee in the 2026 class.
With the class now finalized, Tennessee can turn its full attention to spring ball and the 2026 season ahead. This group won’t just add bodies to the roster-it’s loaded with players who could push for early playing time and help sustain the upward trajectory that Heupel and his staff have built in Knoxville.
The Vols may not have made a massive splash on the final day of the cycle, but they didn’t need to. The work was largely done in December, and the result is a top-10 class that blends elite talent with regional recruiting wins. For Tennessee, that’s a strong position to be in as the program looks to take the next step in the SEC arms race.