Tennessee football is keeping the momentum rolling on the recruiting trail, and the 2026 class just got a little deeper. The Vols added another in-state name to the mix with the commitment of wide receiver Brayden Carroll, who announced his decision over the weekend via Instagram.
Carroll, a product of Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee - and formerly of Cleveland High - brings good size to the position at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. He’s rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and comes in at No. 2,393 nationally, No. 348 among wide receivers, and No. 78 in the state of Tennessee, according to the site's composite rankings.
While Carroll may not be a headliner in this class, his offer list speaks to his versatility and potential. He drew interest from a variety of programs, including Army, Navy, Yale, Appalachian State, Cincinnati, and MTSU, among others. That’s a mix of service academies, Group of Five programs, and FCS schools - the kind of list that shows a player with both athletic upside and academic chops.
For Tennessee, this is another example of head coach Josh Heupel and his staff casting a wide net across the state and rewarding local talent that fits their system. Carroll joins a wide receiver group in the 2026 class that’s already shaping up to be a strength.
That unit is led by five-star TK Keys, four-star in-state standout Tyreek King, three-star JaColby Cooper, and unranked local prospect Lane Cope. It’s a blend of elite talent and developmental upside - and Carroll fits right into that mix.
Zooming out, Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting haul is shaping up to be Heupel’s best yet in Knoxville. The class currently features 32 commitments and ranks No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC, trailing only Alabama within the conference and sitting behind USC and Oregon overall. That’s elite company - and it speaks to just how far the Vols have come under Heupel’s leadership.
The class is headlined by three five-star prospects: quarterback Faizon Brandon, wide receiver TK Keys, and offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda. That trio alone gives Tennessee a foundation to build on for years to come. And with depth at key positions like wide receiver, offensive line, and defense, this group isn’t just top-heavy - it’s well-rounded.
Looking even further ahead, Tennessee already has four commitments in the 2027 class. Four-star tackle Princeton Uwaifo, four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star linebacker JP Peace, and three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield are the early building blocks. It’s still early days for that group, but the Vols are clearly planting seeds for sustained success.
Bottom line: Tennessee is stacking talent, both locally and nationally, and doing it with a clear identity. Brayden Carroll might not be the most talked-about name in this class, but he’s another piece in a puzzle that’s coming together in a big way on Rocky Top.