KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football surged to its best signing class of the Josh Heupel era, as the Volunteers secured a top 10 class by welcoming 28 new prospects Wednesday, the first day of the early period.
Tennessee signed 19 defensive players, eight offensive players and one specialist to form a Class of 2026 that was ranked No. 7 by both Rivals and the 247Sports Composite as of 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
The Vols inked three five-star prospects highlighted by quarterback Faizon Brandon (Greensboro, North Carolina), wide receiver TK Keys (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) and offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda out of the Baylor School in Chattanooga. Keys is widely considered the No. 1 wide receiver in the country and committed to the Vols in August.
Brandon gave Tennessee the top prospect in the state of North Carolina for the second straight year, while the commitment of Keys secured the state of Mississippi’s top recruit for the Vols. Heupel’s staff also, most importantly, emphasized the Volunteer State, signing five of Tennessee’s top seven prospects, including the No. 1 defensive player in Joel Wyatt.
“I think our staff did a great job here in state,” Heupel said. “From the moment I got here I said it was important for us to go recruit it the right way. It doesn’t mean that we take every player, but that we recruited the right way.”
Heupel’s staff closed strong with four flips, including highly-touted athlete Legend Bey of Heartland, Texas, right before Wednesday afternoon’s press conference, as well as a slew of talented defensive linemen.
“Legend on the video he is dynamic, special playmaker with the ball in his hands,” Heupel said. “(I) got a chance to watch him live and in-person too and he is such a unique tool. His skill-set having played quarterback, the command, the presence that he has back there, he throws the ball really extremely well in-person. As a playmaker and the ability to be involved out in space, perimeter screen, the ability to go up in high point balls, he’s extremely loose. He’s a guy that can be used in the return game as well. So, just a dynamic tool that we have the opportunity to add to the offensive arsenal.”
For complete profiles on the Class of 2026, visit UTsports.com/rockytop26.
