Tennessee football just locked in one of the most impressive recruiting classes in the country - and the final 247Sports rankings for the 2026 cycle make it official. The Vols closed out the cycle with the No. 4 class nationally and the No. 2 haul in the SEC, trailing only Alabama. That’s elite company, with USC, Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Ohio State rounding out the top five.
This group is loaded with size, speed, and upside at every level. From a top-three quarterback to a pair of five-star weapons on offense and a deep rotation of defensive linemen, Josh Heupel and his staff have built a foundation that could elevate Tennessee’s trajectory for years to come.
Let’s break down the class, position by position, and take a closer look at where each signee landed in the final rankings.
Quarterback
Faizon Brandon (Greensboro, N.C. - Grimsley)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 206
- 247 Ranking: 5-star | No. 3 overall | No. 3 QB | No. 1 in NC
Brandon is the crown jewel of this class - a true dual-threat with elite arm talent and poise beyond his years. Ranked No. 3 nationally, he’s the kind of quarterback that can change a program’s ceiling. Think athleticism, accuracy, and command of the offense - he checks every box.
Wide Receivers
TK Keys (Hattiesburg, Miss. - Hattiesburg)
- Height/Weight: 6-2, 186
- 247 Ranking: 5-star | No. 12 overall | No. 1 WR | No. 1 in MS
Tennessee landed the top wideout in the country in TK Keys, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s explosive off the line, fluid in his routes, and has the kind of after-the-catch ability that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. He’s a game-changer.
Tyreek King (Knoxville, Tenn. - Knoxville Catholic)
- Height/Weight: 5-11, 175
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 49 WR | No. 10 in TN
King brings local flavor and big-play potential. He’s a smooth route runner with reliable hands and plenty of burst in the open field.
Tight End
Luca Wolf (Vienna, Austria - NFL UK Academy)
- Height/Weight: 6-5, 246
- 247 Ranking: 3-star | No. 67 TE | No. 3 in his region
Wolf is a fascinating international prospect with NFL size and intriguing upside. He’s raw, but the tools are there - and Tennessee’s staff has shown they can develop tight ends.
Offensive Line
Gabriel Osenda (Airdrie, Alberta - Baylor School, TN)
- Height/Weight: 6-8, 333
- 247 Ranking: 5-star | No. 27 overall | No. 5 OL | No. 2 in TN
Osenda is a mountain of a man with rare mobility for his size. He’s a plug-and-play tackle who could anchor the line for years. Five-star offensive linemen don’t grow on trees - this is a massive win.
Kamari Blair (Clarksville, Tenn. - Kirkwood)
- Height/Weight: 6-6, 280
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 114 overall | No. 13 OL | No. 5 in TN
Blair has the length and athleticism to play tackle or slide inside. He’s a physical run blocker with a nasty streak - the kind of tone-setter every line needs.
Ed Baker (Baltimore, Md. - St. Frances Academy)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 336
- 247 Ranking: 3-star | No.
62 OL | No. 22 in MD
Baker brings size and experience from one of the top high school programs in the country. He’s a developmental piece with upside.
Defensive Line
This is where Tennessee loaded up - and it’s not just about quantity. There’s real depth and versatility in this group.
Carter Gooden (Marion, Mass. - Tabor Academy)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 260
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 66 overall | No. 11 DL | No. 1 in MA
Gooden is a disruptive force with quick hands and a high motor. He’s the kind of interior lineman who can collapse a pocket and anchor against the run.
Zach Groves (Cross Plains, Tenn. - East Robertson)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 255
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 210 overall | No. 23 DL | No. 6 in TN
Groves brings versatility and effort. He’s a high-upside edge rusher who could develop into a key rotational piece early.
Breeze Carter (Douglasville, Ga. - Douglas County)
- Height/Weight: 6-3, 273
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 28 DL | No. 23 in GA
Carter has the build and athleticism to play multiple spots up front. He’s strong at the point of attack and plays with great leverage.
Dereon Albert (Jackson, Miss. - Jackson Academy)
- Height/Weight: 6-1, 300
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 36 DL | No. 11 in MS
A stout interior presence who plays low and strong. Albert is built to clog lanes and hold his ground in the trenches.
Other defensive line signees include:
- JJ Finch (Indianapolis, IN - Warren Central): 3-star, No.
96 DL
- CJ Edwards (Edison, NJ - St.
Joseph): 3-star, No. 61 DL
- Kedric Golston II (Leesburg, VA - Stone Bridge): 3-star, No. 51 DL
- Hezekiah Harris (Huntsville, AL - Mae Jemison): 3-star, No. 44 DL
- Darryl Rivers (Powder Springs, GA - McEachern): 3-star, No. 61 DL
- Nuk Simmons (Columbus, GA - Carver): 3-star, No. 161 DL
This group is all about depth, rotation, and development - exactly what you need to compete in the SEC trenches.
Linebackers
Brayden Rouse (Woodstock, Ga. - Kell)
- Height/Weight: 6-3, 210
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 73 overall | No. 6 LB | No. 8 in GA
Rouse is a sideline-to-sideline backer with twitch and instincts. He’s a modern linebacker - fast enough to cover, physical enough to hit.
TJ White (Jackson, Miss. - Jackson Academy)
- Height/Weight: 6-2, 237
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 133 overall | No. 8 LB | No. 6 in MS
White brings size and physicality. He’s a thumper in the middle who can plug gaps and lead a defense.
Defensive Backs
Joel Wyatt (Shelbyville, Tenn. - Oakland)
- Height/Weight: 6-4, 200
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 63 overall | No. 3 DB | No. 3 in TN
Wyatt is a long, athletic safety with range and ball skills. At 6-4, he’s a matchup nightmare for tight ends and bigger receivers.
Zay Anderson (Greeneville, Tenn. - Greeneville)
- Height/Weight: 6-0, 170
- 247 Ranking: 4-star | No. 16 DB | No. 9 in TN
Anderson is a smooth cover corner who plays with confidence. He’s quick in transition and competes at the catch point.
Other DBs in the class include:
- Jowell Combay (Kennesaw, GA - Kell): 3-star, No.
44 DB
- KJ McClain (Rahway, NJ - St.
Joseph Regional): 3-star, No. 65 DB
- Javonte Smith (Jackson, TN - North Side): 3-star, No. 54 DB
- Jamyan Theodore (Cleveland, OH - Baylor School, TN): 3-star, No. 86 DB
- Luke Thompson (Franklin, TN - Franklin): 3-star, No. 50 DB
This is a group built on length and versatility. Tennessee clearly prioritized defensive backs who can play in space and match up across formations.