Tennessee football isn’t wasting any time when it comes to shaping the future of its program. Fresh off an elite 2026 signing class, Josh Heupel and his staff are already looking well beyond the next cycle.
While the focus naturally shifts to building out the 2027 group, the Vols are also laying the groundwork for 2028 and even 2029. That kind of long-view approach is how you stay competitive in the SEC - and Tennessee is clearly all-in.
Last week, the Vols took a significant step forward in their 2029 recruiting efforts by extending offers to several rising prospects who just finished their freshman seasons. These aren’t just speculative names - these are players who are already turning heads early in their high school careers. Let’s take a closer look at the newest names on Tennessee’s radar.
Jaxson Russell - Interior Offensive Lineman
- High School: Lakeland (Fla.)
- Size: 6'6", 310 lbs
- Other Offers: Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Nebraska, Pitt, SMU
Russell is already commanding major attention across the Southeast - and for good reason. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he’s got the kind of frame that college coaches dream about when projecting offensive linemen.
The fact that he’s drawing offers from the likes of Georgia and Florida State this early tells you everything you need to know about his upside. Tennessee is jumping into the mix at the right time, hoping to build a relationship before his recruitment really takes off.
Makai Buchanan - Athlete
- High School: Victor Valley (Calif.)
- Size: 5'11", 180 lbs
- Other Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Cal, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC
Buchanan is one of the most intriguing names on this list - and not just because of the offer sheet, which already reads like a who's who of college football heavyweights. Listed as an athlete, Buchanan brings versatility to the table, and programs are clearly excited about his potential on either side of the ball. Whether he ends up as a playmaker on offense or a lockdown defender, Tennessee is wisely getting in early on a national-level talent from the West Coast.
Zachary Watts - Running Back
- High School: Carver (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Size: 5'11", 170 lbs
- Other Offers: Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Texas A&M
Watts is a name that’s already buzzing in the Southeast recruiting scene. He’s a dynamic back with speed, vision, and the kind of burst that makes defenders look like they’re standing still.
With programs like Alabama and Georgia already in the mix, this is a classic SEC recruiting battle in the making. Tennessee’s offer is a clear statement: they want to be a serious player in Watts’ recruitment from the jump.
Devin Smith - Interior Offensive Lineman
- High School: Broken Arrow (Okla.)
- Size: 6'3", 300 lbs
- Other Offers: Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Smith is another big body up front who’s starting to rack up attention in the Midwest and beyond. At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, he’s already showing the strength and technique that coaches look for in interior linemen. Tennessee stepping in with an offer marks his ninth from a Division I program - and it’s a sign that the Vols are looking to build a strong foundation in the trenches for the future.
Looking Ahead
Recruiting at the 2029 level may seem early, but in today’s college football landscape, this is the new normal. Programs that want to compete for championships don’t just recruit the next class - they recruit the next three. Tennessee is doing exactly that, identifying talent early and making sure those prospects know they’re wanted in Knoxville.
This latest wave of offers shows the Vols are casting a wide net - from Florida to California to Oklahoma - and doing so with purpose. These aren’t just names to watch down the road.
These are players Tennessee believes can help shape the future of the program. And if the early returns from the 2026 class are any indication, Heupel and his staff know exactly what they’re doing.