A look at Tennessee's recruiting ties in the state of North Carolina
The state of North Carolina has proven to be talent rich over the years, and Tennessee has re-emphasized recruiting the state under Josh Heupel. Volquest takes a look at Tennessee’s ties into the Tarheel state in this story.
A look at current Vols from the state of North Carolina
Tennessee currently has five players from the Tarheel State listed on their 2024 roster, including Quarterback Navy Shuler, EDGE James Pearce, Defensive Lineman Daevin Hobbs, Tight End Charlie Browder, and Wide Receiver Nathan Leacock.
The Vols have been more involved in the crucial battle ground state under Josh Heupel and continue to make the state a priority.
“It’s huge (North Carolina),” Heupel said on Vol Calls on Wednesday. “Historically when Tennessee is good, they are recruiting well in North Carolina. We have been intentional in building relationships over there. We are starting to get guys from that area. There is really good football and really good athletes there. This is a unique opportunity for us to go play on a neutral site in an area that is a fertile recruiting ground for us.”
“The power T brand is huge. It’s an iconic brand in sports. First round draft picks, hall of famers, college football hall of famers, all of those things. There is so much history here. It’s been fun watching Vol nation return to what it always has been. We are still continuing to get better as a program, but you can feel the energy within it and that’s why we have had the success that we have had recruiting. It’s why we have had success in Charlotte and all over North Carolina because the kids can feel it over there too.”
Key Recruiting Wins in North Carolina under Josh Heupel
James Pearce Jr.
Tennessee has been really good in the state of North Carolina under Heupel, and while they have two recruits currently committed that are ranked higher than Pearce was in high school, you cannot overlook the production from the elite EDGE prospect. Pearce was stellar in 2023, and he has all of the makings of a day one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Securing Pearce’s signature during the early signing period and not letting other schools make a push during the February window was critical for Tennessee, and it has paid dividends since.
Daevin Hobbs
Tennessee won another key recruiting battle in the Tarheel state in 2023 with Hobbs. He was prioritized by the likes of Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, but his relationship with Rodney Garner won out in the end. He flashed a couple of times as a freshman and is expected to play a bigger role for the Vols along the defensive line this fall.
Tennessee has recruited effectively under Heupel through four years, but they still needed to land the big fish on the offensive line, after swinging and missing the previous cycles. Glen Elarbee and Tennessee won out over a host of schools for David Sanders, and he projects as the cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come.
Tennessee has been excellent in evaluating quarterbacks under Heupel, and the Vols jumped on Faizon Brandon early. He is now the top-rated QB in the 2026 On3 Industry Rankings, and he is a prototypical fit for what the Vols want at quarterback. Tennessee beat out Alabama, LSU and others to secure his commitment in August.
Nathan Leacock
Tennessee has done a nice job of recruiting receivers since Kelsey Pope became the wide receivers coach, and Leacock was a nice early win for the young position coach. Tennessee beat out a handful of schools including N.C. State and Michigan to land Leacock. He eventually vaulted into the top-50 of the 2023 On3 rankings. While his start on Rocky Top has been slow, he has started to progress over the last few months and hauled in his first pass of his career on Saturday.
Tennessee offered House early on in the process and made him a priority from that point on. In the end, the Vols beat out Alabama and Georgia to secure the commitment of the four-star defensive lineman, who possesses plenty of upside.
Future Names to Know in North Carolina
As Heupel referenced, the Tarheel State is important to Tennessee’s future success, and there are plenty of names to know moving forward.
2026 offensive lineman Leo Delaney is right at the top of Tennessee’s board for the next cycle, and the Vols are going to be in another heavyweight battle if they hope to land his services. Michigan and numerous others are heavily involved here early on.
2026 tight end Kendre Harrison is arguably the most physically gifted prospect in the 2026 cycle at 6-6, 245 pounds. He is a talented pass-catcher, and he has connected well with Alec Abeln. The Vols are on his shortlist of favorites, along with Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Penn State, and Oregon.
The Vols have kept close tabs on elite 2026 cornerback Samari “Smoke” Matthews, and Tennessee has done a nice job of recruiting him. He will be back to campus in October as the Vols battle Clemson and several other programs.
Finally, Tennessee has made Myers Park teammates Brody Keefe and Rodney Dunham priority targets for several months. Both have been to campus multiple times, and they are set to return in October.
