Tennessee’s biggest NIL number for the 2026 season still belongs to a player who won’t suit up for the Vols.
Edge rusher Chaz Coleman signed the largest reported deal with Tennessee at $2 million, but after missing practices and workouts, he was medically disqualified from UT’s roster and will not play for the program. Chris Low reported on the RTI: Low-Down that Coleman had been paid about $200,000 before his exit, leaving some of that money unused by Tennessee.
That shifts the spotlight to the players actually on the roster, and left tackle David Sanders Jr. now sits at the top of the list. On3 pegs Sanders at $1.7 million for his sophomore season. A former five-star recruit, he heads into year two with plenty of expectations attached.
Second-year quarterback George MacIntyre is next in line, with On3 listing him at $1.6 million. That figure is not marked as a confirmed deal, though; On3 labels it as market value or ongoing negotiations.
A cluster of Vols sits at the $1 million mark for the upcoming season. On3 reports confirmed deals for five-star freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, five-star freshman wide receiver TK Keys and junior wide receiver Mike Matthews. DeSean Bishop is also listed at $1 million, but On3 does not classify that number as a confirmed deal.
The next tier is also in the market value or negotiation category. That group includes cornerback Ty Redmond at $850,000, wide receiver Braylon Staley at $750,000 and wide receiver Radarious Jackson at $400,000.
In Other News...
Tennessees Quarterback Battle May Already Be Telling Fans Something Big
Tennessees quarterback room is already one of the most watched parts of fall camp, and for good reason. The Vols are set to sort through a competition that includes true freshman Faizon Brandon, redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and transfer Ryan Staub, a mix that gives the staff both youth and experience as it tries to identify the next answer under center.
Brandon has been the name drawing the most attention so far, not just because of his recruiting profile, but because of how quickly he has taken to the offense. Coaches have been encouraged by his early progress, and that kind of head start can matter in a room where every rep counts. Even before the competition really settles in, there is already a sense that Tennessee may be seeing the shape of its future at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Finally Gets The National Respect Vols Fans Wanted
College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein gave Tennessee another sign that the Vols are being viewed the way their fans have long wanted, slotting them No. 10 in his Rothstein Power 45. For a program that has spent recent seasons trying to turn strong regular-season teams into something even more dangerous in March, the ranking fits the broader sense around this roster: Tennessee has the talent to be taken seriously as a national title threat.
Rick Barnes has used the transfer portal to reshape the group with a clear eye toward more scoring punch, adding Juke Harris, Terrence Hill Jr., Jalan Haralson, Dai Dai Ames, Miles Rubin, Braedan Lue, Christian Fermin and DeWayne Brown II. The Vols still want to win the familiar way, with defense and rebounding at the center of everything, but the real test is coming soon enough in a demanding non-conference slate that should say plenty about how ready this team is for the postseason. [Read more 🡒]