Tennessee’s Saturday matchup with Texas is already the kind of game that turns Neyland Stadium into a showcase, and this weekend also gives the Volunteers a chance to make a move with one of their top wide receiver targets in the 2028 class.
Providence Day (NC) wide receiver Braylon Clark will be in Knoxville, a visit first reported by Chad Simmons of On3/Rivals and confirmed by Vols on SI. Tennessee has been pushing hard for the 2028 pass catcher for a while now, and the trip comes at a time when his recruitment is beginning to take shape.
Clark, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver, spoke with Vols on SI after Providence Day’s hard-fought win last Friday at Rabun Gap (GA). He was busy helping in the blocking game for much of the night, but when his number was called, he delivered. Clark also found the end zone for a needed touchdown.
After the game, Clark discussed both his recruiting picture and where Tennessee fits. The Vols were one of the 12 schools included in his recently released top group, and he made it clear the program remains in strong position.
On the visit for Tennessee’s game against Texas, Clark said, "I really just want to see Tennessee win. Seeing that quarterback play, see that offense and how they are playing.
I'm there to have fun, I've been down there a lot of times. I have a good relationship with Coach (Kelsey) Pope," Clark details.
That relationship with Kelsey Pope keeps coming up, and for good reason. Clark said the two have been connected since Pope first met him as a freshman. He also has noticed the way Tennessee is spreading the ball around at receiver this season.
"I mean, shoot, they (UT wide receivers) all getting fed. Braylon (Staley) going off, Mikey (Mike Matthews) going off, I mean everyone is going off, so that's really good. It means a lot to me, because like if I go there, I have the opportunity to play asap, right away."
Clark said he plans to make another cut to his list after the season, and right now his focus is on his junior year. Official visits will come later, after the season and after that next reduction in schools.
Even so, Tennessee appears firmly in the mix for an official visit. Clark said, "Yeah, it'll be after the season and all.
Tennessee will probably definitely be in there. I mean, they've been recruiting me real hard, since I was a freshman and I have always had a great relationship with them," Clark said.
There are also a couple of connections that could matter down the road. David Sanders Jr. is a graduate of Providence Day, Clark’s current school, and Tennessee already has 2028 quarterback commit Kaden Craft, who is also from North Carolina. Clark and Craft are not far apart, making that pairing one to keep an eye on.
In Other News...
College GameDay Guest Picker For Tennessee Texas Could Spark Vols Debate
ESPNs College GameDay is headed to Knoxville for Tennessees showdown with Texas on Sept. 26, and the familiar guessing game is already underway around who will handle the celebrity guest picker role. When the show comes to a host campus, it usually leans into local flavor, and Tennessee has no shortage of recognizable names to choose from after years of memorable selections that mixed sports, music and comedy.
Rick Barnes, Bianca Belair, Candace Parker and Kenny Chesney are among the names being floated, which gives the Vols plenty to debate before the cameras ever arrive. The decision will matter less for the picks than for the vibe, since GameDay guest spots tend to become part of the weekends identity, especially when a major SEC matchup brings the kind of attention Knoxville is about to get. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol Kaleb Beasley Is Creating An Uncomfortable Tennessee Question
Kaleb Beasleys move from Tennessee to Louisville has already turned into one of those transfer stories that lingers a little longer for Vols fans. The Nashville product was once viewed as a highly rated local recruit, and after spending time as a backup safety in Knoxville, he has started to find a bigger stage elsewhere. His recent showing in Louisvilles win over SMU made sure the attention followed him, because he was all over the field and came away with a performance that drew national and conference recognition.
For Tennessee, the uncomfortable part is simple: Beasley is suddenly looking like the kind of defensive back the Vols could have used. He led Louisville in tackles and picked off two passes in that game, then added the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors to the resume. When a former in-state recruit starts stacking that kind of production after leaving town, it naturally invites a second look at how his path unfolded and what it means for the roster Tennessee is trying to build now. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes Just Added More Emotion To Tennessee Vs Texas
Rick Barnes added a little more emotion to an already charged matchup by leaning into the history on both sides before Tennessee meets Texas. The Volunteers coach spent 17 years running the Longhorns program, so his perspective on this one comes with a built-in layer of familiarity, and he made clear he still carries good memories from that time while also showing appreciation for the athletic directors at both schools.
Barnes, though, left no doubt where his focus sits now. Ahead of the game, he spoke as a coach invested in Tennessee and its basketball program, which gives this meeting a little extra edge beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. For Tennessee fans, it is another reminder that this game is more than a reunion for Barnes, even if the details of that Texas connection still linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]