Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class just got a little more local - and a little deeper at a position of need.
Wide receiver JaColby Cooper, a standout from Alcoa (Tenn.) High School, announced his commitment to the Vols on Saturday night, giving Josh Heupel’s staff another in-state playmaker to build around. At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Cooper isn’t just a hometown pickup - he’s a productive, athletic receiver who brings some much-needed depth to a wideout group that’s been thinned out by recent recruiting shakeups.
Cooper chose Tennessee over offers from Carson-Newman, Campbellsville, Pikeville, and Emory & Henry. While those programs might not carry the same national weight, Cooper’s commitment is about more than stars or rankings - it’s about fit, development, and opportunity. And for him, the fit couldn’t be clearer.
“I picked Tennessee because it feels like home every time I’ve been to a home game, and I pictured myself playing there,” Cooper said. “It’s like a brotherhood, also, and the staff I have talked to is very nice!”
That sense of connection matters, especially in a recruiting landscape that’s evolving quickly. Just last month, SEC presidents voted to expand the football scholarship limit from 85 to 105 starting with the 2026 season.
That’s a game-changer. It opens the door for more developmental prospects - guys like Cooper - to earn scholarships rather than walking on.
Programs can now take more swings on local talent, and Tennessee is clearly taking advantage.
Cooper is the second local commit in the Vols’ 2026 class this week alone, joining offensive lineman Jeremy George-El from Knoxville Catholic. And while Cooper doesn’t come in with the same national buzz as some of Tennessee’s other receiver signees, his production speaks volumes.
During his senior season at Alcoa, Cooper hauled in 52 catches for 628 yards and nine touchdowns, helping lead the Tornadoes to their 11th straight state title - and their first in Tennessee’s Class 4A. That kind of consistency, especially in a program as respected as Alcoa’s, is no small feat.
The Vols’ staff has taken notice.
“They have told me they like how I go get the ball, the way I run routes and my yards after the catch,” Cooper said.
That skill set fills a real need for Tennessee. The Vols had originally signed two big-time receivers in the 2026 class - five-star Tristen Keys out of Hattiesburg (Miss.) and four-star Tyreek King from Knoxville Catholic.
Keys is already on campus as an early enrollee, while King is set to arrive in May. But the group took a hit when former commit Salesi Moa, a top-50 national prospect from Utah, flipped to his home-state Utes before ultimately landing at Michigan.
Then came the late departure of four-star athlete Legend Bey, who briefly signed with Tennessee before flipping back to Ohio State.
That left Keys and King as the only scholarship receivers in the 2026 class - until Cooper came on board.
He might not have Moa’s star rating or Bey’s recruiting profile, but Cooper brings something else to the table: reliability, upside, and a deep-rooted connection to the program. He’s a local kid who’s worn orange from the stands and now gets to wear it on the field. And in a class that’s been through its share of twists and turns, that kind of commitment can go a long way.
With the new scholarship rules in place and a coaching staff that’s shown it knows how to develop talent, Cooper’s path at Tennessee is wide open. He’s not just a feel-good story - he’s a player with real tools and a real opportunity to make an impact in Knoxville.