Tennessee’s 2028 recruiting push picked up another boost Saturday, and the buzz centered on one of the fastest-rising offensive linemen in the class.
Cooper Martenson was in Knoxville to see the Vols beat Alabama, and the visit clearly left an impression. Tennessee has already landed one commitment in 2028 from Kaden Craft, and Martenson is now another name to watch closely as Josh Heupel’s program continues drawing attention from top prospects.
Martenson’s rise has been sharp. Over the past few months, he has gone from unranked to a four-star recruit, and his offer list has grown to include Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, and others.
During the trip, Martenson spent time with offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, offensive analyst Kevin Pendleton, and Heupel. He said the conversation centered on his development and how his game would translate in Knoxville.
“We spoke about how my season was going, and how my physical style of play would fit in at Tennessee.”
The game-day atmosphere stood out just as much as the football. Martenson was at Neyland Stadium for what he called a memorable night, and he came away raving about the environment.
“It was amazing. It was great to get back to Neyland.
I have never been to a game where the fans were that loud. The atmosphere was electric!”
Martenson’s fall schedule is already filling up. He has visited Georgia Tech and Georgia, and he plans to be at Auburn this weekend before heading to Florida in a few weeks. He also hopes to make it back to Tennessee once his high school season is over.
He said he plans to announce a top schools list in the spring.
As for an official visit to Tennessee, Martenson made it clear the Vols are in good shape there.
“(It's) Very likely. After the experience I had in Knoxville on Saturday, catching up with coaches and watching the players and their physical style of football, I know I would fit in on the O-Line at Tennessee.”
In Other News...
Tennessees Costly 4th-And-1 Breakdown Deserves A Closer Look
A late fourth-and-1 became the kind of moment Tennessee would like back for a long time, with quarterback George MacIntyre unable to execute the intended handoff and the play ending in a loss of yards and a turnover on downs. It was the sort of breakdown that can swing a game in a hurry, and in this case it opened the door for South Carolina to tie things up before going on to win.
Josh Heupel and MacIntyre both pointed to the sequence as a misstep and a miscommunication, which only adds to the sting for Tennessee because the margin for error was already so thin. On a night when one clean exchange might have changed the finish, the Volunteers were left sorting through how a short-yardage call unraveled at the worst possible time. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Benefits After South Carolinas Costly Postgame Chaos
Tennessee will collect an unexpected off-field benefit from one of the SECs newest enforcement measures after South Carolina was fined $500,000 for fans storming the field at Williams-Brice Stadium following a game-winning field goal against the Volunteers. The penalty marks the third field-storming fine in the conference this season and the first under the leagues flat-rate system, which replaced a more variable approach to these violations.
For Tennessee, the result is less about the dollar amount than the principle behind it. The money will be paid to the visiting team affected by the violation, giving the Volunteers a direct return from a night that ended in chaos for the home crowd. It is another reminder that the SEC is trying to make field-storming more expensive, even as the practice continues to create problems after close games. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Still Has Two Strengths That Should Worry Kentucky
Even after the 27-24 loss to South Carolina, Tennessee still has the kind of defensive backbone and ground game that can make life miserable for Kentucky. The Volunteers have piled up 35 sacks and 66 tackles for loss this season, numbers that speak to a front capable of changing games even when the offense does not fully capitalize. On the other side of the ball, DeSean Bishop gave Tennessee a needed spark with 120 rushing yards and a touchdown, a performance that also pushed him past some meaningful career benchmarks.
Now the bye week gives Tennessee a chance to reset before the Kentucky matchup, and that is where the Vols will lean on what has traveled best for them all year. If the defense keeps collapsing pockets and the run game keeps producing steady yards, Tennessee has a clear path to making the rivalry game uncomfortable for the Wildcats, even after the setback in Columbia. [Read more 🡒]