As Tennessee wraps up its 2026 recruiting class, Josh Heupel and his staff are already shifting gears toward 2027 - and they’re starting to gain traction with one of the Southeast’s emerging defensive prospects.
EDGE rusher Galloway, a standout from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, is starting to feel the pull from Rocky Top. According to recent reports, Tennessee is one of four schools making a strong early impression on the 6-foot-3, 240-pound defender. Nebraska, Notre Dame, and SMU round out the group, but Tennessee holds a key advantage: proximity and familiarity.
Galloway has already made two visits to Knoxville - once for a spring practice and again for a gameday experience - and it’s clear that the Vols have made those trips count. One name that keeps coming up in Galloway’s recruitment is Rodney Garner. Tennessee’s veteran defensive line coach has earned a reputation as one of the best developers of talent in the country, and Galloway says he’s a big fan of Garner’s coaching style and energy.
But there’s another connection that could be just as important - maybe even more so. Galloway’s former high school teammate, David Sanders Jr., is now part of Tennessee’s program.
And when it comes to recruiting, few things carry more weight than a trusted voice from someone who’s already living the experience. Galloway says Sanders is happy in Knoxville and speaks highly of the culture Heupel has built.
That kind of endorsement can go a long way.
Galloway is currently rated as a three-star prospect in the Rivals Industry Rankings. He checks in as the No. 487 overall player in the 2027 class, the No.
46 EDGE rusher nationally, and the No. 20 player in North Carolina. Those rankings could shift as his junior season unfolds, but the tools are clearly there - size, quickness off the edge, and a frame that can grow into an SEC-caliber pass rusher.
While there’s no hard deadline on his recruitment, Galloway doesn’t plan to let things drag deep into next fall. He’s aiming to make a decision before his senior season kicks off, ideally after he wraps up his official visits this summer.
“I don’t want to commit too late,” Galloway said. “I’m going to be focused on the season, so finding the right home before then is important. I could see myself committing in that normal time - late in the summer, after official visits.”
That timeline puts the pressure on Tennessee to keep the momentum going. They’ve made a strong early impression, but staying in front means continuing to build relationships and getting Galloway back on campus - whether it’s for spring workouts, summer camps, or another gameday visit.
As it stands, Tennessee’s 2027 class is off to a solid start. The Vols currently have four commitments, good for No. 15 nationally in On3’s team rankings. The group includes four-star offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, four-star defensive lineman Kadin Fife, three-star cornerback Kamauri Whitfield, and three-star linebacker JP Peace.
Adding a player like Galloway would not only strengthen Tennessee’s defensive front for the future - it would also reinforce their growing pipeline into North Carolina, a region that’s becoming increasingly important in SEC recruiting battles.
The groundwork is there. Now it’s about closing the gap.