4-star instate TE Carson Sneed dishes on decision to stay home
Nashville tight end Carson Sneed grew up a Tennessee fan. He loved everything about the orange and white but once his recruitment started he tried to keep an open mind. After many visits he decided to stay home and picked Tennessee on Monday.
“It’s the relationship I have with coach Heupel and coach Abeln,” Sneed said. “They recruited my family just as hard as they recruited me. I know they have a relationship with them as well.”
The bond he has with second year tight ends coach Alec Abeln is real and something he couldn’t pass up.
“Ever since he started recruiting me he has been my guy,” Sneed said. “He is a great coach and I’ve been blessed to be at some Tennessee practices and see how he runs his tight ends drills and all that. He is hard when he needs to be but at the end of the day you love him and I don’t think there is a better tight ends coach in all of America.”
His older brother Dayton is in the program and that gives him a look at what it is like to be a Tennessee Volunteer.
“It’s been great because everytime he comes home or texts me he has had nothing but great things to say about Tennessee,” Sneed said. “Behind closed doors they don’t just put on for the media.”
And what his older brother tells him is that he plays for a coach in Josh Heupel that looks out for his players.
“He is great,” Sneed said. “He doesn’t have a big ego like some head coaches. You see him walking around talking to everyone’s family and that’s great.”
At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Sneed is physically prepared for the next level.
“With me I can guarantee you that you’re going to get someone to go in there and block,” Snead said. “I can split out and run routes just as good as any receiver I feel like.”
He still has two years of high school football left, but with all the momentum on campus right now he can’t wait to get here.
“A crazy amount,” Sneed said. “I know ever since I strapped on the pads when I was young all I’ve wanted to do was play for Tennessee and now I got the opportunity I’m going to make the most of it.”
Sneed joins Faizon Brandon as the second commit for the 2026 class.
