Fall camp is right around the corner, and Tennessee’s updated 2026 roster is already giving a clear look at what changed during the offseason. The release came Friday, and it brought a mix of jersey number switches and some eye-catching weight gains under new strength coach Derek Owings.
A few of the number changes stand out immediately. Running back Justin Baker and defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam are both listed at No.
- Wide receiver Radarious Jackson and cornerback Tre Poteat are now wearing No.
- Tristen Keys has moved to No.
5, Javin Gordon to No. 6, Joakim Dodson to No.
9, George MacIntyre to No. 12 and Nathan Robinson to No. 19.
Among the freshmen and transfers, quarterback Faizon Brandon is listed at No. 11, wide receiver Tyreek King at No. 19, safety Joel Wyatt at No. 31, safety TJ Metcalf at No. 1, nickel Qua Moss at No. 6 and cornerback Kayin Lee at No. 14.
The bigger story, though, is what Tennessee’s players added in the weight room.
Christian Gass is now listed at 245 pounds, which makes him the most notable body transformation on the roster. That’s close to a 30-pound jump, and it comes at a time when Tennessee is looking for more depth off the edge after the Chaz Coleman disaster.
George MacIntyre is up to 208 pounds, a gain of about 15 pounds from last season. His size has been a talking point since spring, and Tennessee clearly made it a priority with a quarterback room that is short on experience.
DaShaan Brame checks in at 240 pounds after adding 10 pounds. He flashed enough late last season to emerge as a breakout candidate, and the extra bulk fits with what should be a bigger role this fall. Tennessee expects him to line up both at tight end and in the slot.
DeSean Bishop is also listed at 215 pounds, another important gain after he played around 200 pounds while dealing with midseason injuries last season. The added size should matter, especially with Bishop set for a massive, massive role.
Owings made his approach clear when he was hired: “If it does not make you better at your position, I don’t waste your time,” Owings said. “We don’t have enough time in the day, week, calendar to do fluff.
If it does not make you a better running back, we’re not going to do it. It doesn’t make you a better quarterback, we’re not going to do it.”
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Another Lady Vols Staff Change Just Raised A Bigger Concern
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For Tennessee, the bigger concern is not just turnover, but how often the program has had to reset around it. Tubners next stop adds another layer to that dynamic, especially with a transfer decision now tying him back into the same recruiting and roster conversations the Lady Vols are still navigating. Even after the staff changes were announced, the ripple effects of who left, who arrived and who followed are still being felt. [Read more 🡒]
George MacIntyre Just Made A Notable Step In Tennessee's QB Push
George MacIntyres offseason work has given Tennessee something tangible to point to as fall camp approaches. Under new strength coach Derek Owings, the quarterback has added weight and now sits at 208 pounds after arriving on campus much lighter, a sign the programs nutrition and daily weigh-in emphasis is already paying off.
The timing matters because MacIntyre is about to enter a real competition for the starting job, with Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub also in the mix. Tennessee set 210 pounds as the target for him, and he is close enough now that the next step is less about the scale and more about how he carries that added size when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees 2026 Roster Already Looks Different Under New Strength Staff
Tennessees offseason roster update already offers a glimpse of how much can change when a new strength staff gets to work. After hiring Derek Owings, the highest-paid strength coach in college football, the Vols have seen returning players come back with noticeably different bodies, a sign that the program is pushing for a different kind of physical profile heading into 2026.
The changes are not all in one direction, either. Some players have added size and muscle, while others have trimmed down, including a few names across the defense and along the line. For Tennessee, the real intrigue is how those shifts will show up once camp opens and the roster starts to look less like a spreadsheet and more like a depth chart. [Read more 🡒]