Tennessee’s recruiting board is already taking shape in the 2027 class, with Kesean Bowman and David Gabriel-Georges leading the offense and Kenneth Simon and Marcus Jones headlining the defense. The Volunteers are still working on more additions there, too, including Georgia natives DJ Jacobs and BJ Allen, both of whom could be strong fits as Tennessee tries to build out a top-25 class.
The bigger picture extends into 2028, where Tennessee still doesn’t have a commitment yet but remains in the hunt for several of the country’s most highly regarded prospects. Braylon Clark, Dion Edwards, Jermaine Cobbins, and Maximus Curry are all names Tennessee is actively chasing.
One of the more interesting targets on the board is four-star defensive back Deonte Flemings, a Pennsylvania standout already committed to Penn State. Even with that pledge in place, Tennessee and other programs are still pressing.
Flemings spoke with Vols on SI about why he’s continuing to explore his options.
“Being a kid, I still want to have fun on the recruiting trail, and make the best decision for my family and me.”
His connection with Tennessee is already starting to build, especially with the Vols’ new cornerbacks coach, Derek Jones.
"Coach Jones is down to earth; he is going to be real with you upfront, and he stands on business.”
Flemings also made clear he respects what Tennessee brings as a program.
“They produce history, and they always are in the mix of things when it comes to development for sure.”
He said he plans to be in Knoxville for the “Third Saturday in October” game against Alabama. In addition, he has visits lined up this fall to Ole Miss, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Penn State.
In Other News...
Tennessees QB Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Needed To See
Tennessees quarterback competition remains one of the biggest storylines hanging over the run-up to the season opener against Furman, with five-star freshmen Faizon Brandon and George McIntyre still battling for the job. Josh Heupel came away encouraged by both quarterbacks development after a recent scrimmage, but the staff has not yet settled on a starter, keeping the Volunteers most watched position group in a holding pattern for now.
The intrigue only grew after the scrimmage, when an insider in attendance suggested Brandon had the momentum in the race. Even so, Tennessee has not made anything official, and with an opener approaching, the Vols are still waiting for the final call on who will take the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Heupels First Scrimmage Put Tennessees Biggest Camp Questions In Focus
Josh Heupel stepped to the microphone after Tennessees first fall camp scrimmage with the kind of questions that naturally define August in Knoxville. The Vols are in the middle of a broad defensive reset under new coordinator Jim Knowles, and the change brings a new staff, new transfer pieces and a new standard for how quickly the unit can come together. On the other side of the ball, the biggest camp conversation remains centered on a quarterback battle that is still sorting itself out.
For Tennessee, the scrimmage offered an early checkpoint more than any final answer, and Heupel spent his time pointing toward the areas that will keep drawing attention as camp unfolds. The defense has to learn fast under Knowles, while the offense waits for clarity at quarterback, giving the Vols a pair of high-stakes issues to monitor through the rest of the month. Rocky Top Insider will continue tracking both stories as fall camp moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Faizon Brandon Is Making Tennessees Quarterback Battle A Real Debate
Quarterback battles can linger through camp, but Tennessees has turned into one of the more intriguing ones in the SEC. Freshman Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre are both in the mix, giving the Volunteers a genuine decision to make as they sort out who gives the offense the best chance to open the season. Brandon has already flashed enough in practice to keep the conversation alive, which is exactly what a staff wants from a young quarterback even if it complicates the depth chart.
The wider quarterback picture around the league only adds to the attention on this race, with Alabama and Vanderbilt also sorting through their own competitions among highly ranked recruits. Tennessee has not made a choice yet, and the longer that goes on, the more every practice rep matters for Brandon and MacIntyre alike. For now, the battle remains unresolved, which is part of what makes it worth watching as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]