Coveted 2026 OT Gabriel Osenda finds 'home' on Rocky Top
Tennessee continues its fast start to the 2026 recruiting cycle by landing the commitment of coveted Baylor School offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda. The 6-7, 305-pound prospect announced his decision to choose the Vols live from the All-American Bowl in San Antonio moments ago. Before revealing his decision, he went in-depth with Volquest on why Tennessee was the right fit for him.
Osenda chose the Vols over Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss, among others.
“I took many visits there, and just talking with the coaches, seeing the fans reacting to the stadium and their players, all of the interactions the fans had with the players, and the people that just surround the whole UT program, it just felt like home to me, and it felt like that is the place I want and need to be at,” Osenda said of what made Tennessee the right choice.
Osenda visited Tennessee multiple times during the season, including a critical stretch of home games for the Vols’ against Florida, Alabama, and Kentucky. He left each visit, a little closer to where he is now, committed to Tennessee.
“I think absolutely every time I visited, it got closer to me being like, ‘yeah, this is where I want to be at,'” he said of how important these visits were. “Each visit had a different impact, whether it was seeing the coaches handle what could have been a better game against Florida that went to overtime, to how they handled coming back after a loss against Arkansas and beat Alabama and Kentucky in huge games. Seeing the fans and their energy in the stadium, and how they never give up and always cheering and singing Rocky Top. It was just amazing to see. Each visit made me feel better about Tennessee as a program, and I finally decided that is where I wanted to be at.”
Osenda’s connection with Tennessee Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee and a belief in the development he can get in Knoxville also played a key role in his decision to choose Tennessee.
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“He was probably one of my deciding factors was that he is such a great coach,” Osenda said of Elarbee. “Just seeing what he has done with the linemen they have now and the tackles they have now, I can really see he has developed these guys, and they are doing something great there. My relationship with him, I talk to him a lot, and my communication with him, I can tell his football IQ and knowledge is amazing. Because I am going there, I am going to get developed and be the best I can be at Tennessee.”
Osenda has also built a strong bond with Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during the process, and the Vols Head Coach played a key role in the decision as well.
“He is a great head coach,” Osenda said of Heupel. “He is a true leader. On every visit, he makes sure to talk to all of the recruits and makes them feel welcome. Tennessee can be home for everybody. It is just that type of program. He is a true leader on the field. He is a true leader in recruiting and always wants to talk to recruits. That is just great to see.”
You can see Osenda’s full commitment interview with Volquest in the video player above.
