Tennessee is getting a crack at one of the more heavily pursued young offensive linemen in the country.
Julius “JuJu” Odenthal announced on X that he will be in Knoxville for a game day visit on Nov. 21, when the Vols host LSU at Neyland Stadium. The game falls in the FLEX window, so kickoff will come either in the afternoon or at night.
Odenthal, a class of 2029 target, is drawing a long list of suitors already. Tennessee is among the schools set to host him, along with Texas, Rutgers, Oklahoma and Alabama.
He also has offers from Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, NC State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, UCLA, Washington and SMU.
Odenthal is from Pennington, New Jersey, where he plays for The Pennington School. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 291 pounds, according to 247. The 2029 cycle does not yet have rankings, but the volume of programs already in the mix suggests he’ll land high when they arrive.
For Tennessee, the visit adds another name to the board as the Vols continue building early with younger classes. UT does not have a commitment in either the 2028 or 2029 class right now, but it does have 19 recruits committed in the 2027 cycle, which ranks No. 22 nationally on 247.
The Vols have also done well up front under Josh Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee. That run includes five-star signees David Sanders Jr. and Gabriel Osenda in the last two classes.
In Other News...
Tennessee QB Battle Just Got More Complicated For Faizon Brandon
The quarterback competition in Knoxville has already become one of the biggest storylines of camp, with Ryan Staub, George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon all in the mix as Tennessee works toward a decision before the season opener against Furman. Brandon arrived with plenty of attention of his own, and even in a crowded room, the freshman has been a name worth watching because of the tools that made him such a coveted addition.
ESPNs early view of the SECs 2026 freshman class only added to that buzz, placing Brandon near the top of the conferences incoming talent. What keeps the intrigue high for Tennessee is how his arm talent fits Josh Heupels offense, and whether that upside can ultimately separate him from the other contenders as the Volunteers sort through the race. [Read more 🡒]
Vols Red Zone Reps Offer An Early QB Clue As Receiver Concern Grows
Tennessees fifth fall camp practice offered another early look at the quarterback competition, and the red-zone work was where the picture began to sharpen. Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub all got involved in passing drills, with Brandon and MacIntyre handling most of the first-team snaps as the Vols continued sorting out who is separating from the pack. With media allowed to watch the opening periods, the drill work was one of the more useful snapshots yet of how the offense is being organized near the goal line.
The other storyline was at receiver, where Radarious Jackson had a limited day and the margin for error felt even smaller. His reps were brief and the results were uneven, with drops and accuracy issues showing up while Tennessee monitored the position group through camp. The bigger question now is not just how the quarterbacks keep stacking these reps, but how quickly the Vols can get steadier production from a receiving room that already looks like it may need answers. [Read more 🡒]
James Pearce Jr's NFL Rise Just Hit A Serious Concern
James Pearce Jr.'s rookie year in Atlanta has already taken an unexpected turn, with the former Tennessee edge rusher now facing a potential absence that could alter the Falcons' defensive plans. Atlanta moved up in the 2025 first round to get him, banking on his talent to help a unit that is already dealing with injuries to other key players, and his rise from Knoxville to the NFL had been one of the more closely watched storylines surrounding the franchise.
Now the concern is not just on-field development, but availability. Pearce's situation traces back to a February arrest involving multiple felony charges after an alleged altercation, and the NFL's personal conduct policy looms over the case as Atlanta waits to see how long it may be without a player it invested heavily in less than a year ago. [Read more 🡒]