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Where Tennessee Football's 2026 recruiting class is ranked after adding Brayden Rouse

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•07/09/25•

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Brayden Rouse 7 copy 1
Brayden Rouse (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)

Tennessee Football’s 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 13 nationally, No. 5 in the SEC and has a class score of 90.11 after getting commitments from Rivals four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse and Rivals three-star wide receiver Javonte Smith on Tuesday. 

The Vols are up to 19 commitments in the class, with 13 commitments since May 21 and 12 since the start of June, with six in June and now six in July.

Rouse, who picked Tennessee over Texas, is the second-highest ranked prospect in the class according to the Rivals rankings, coming in at No. 83 nationally. He’s the No. 3 linebacker in the country and the No. 12 overall prospect in the state of Georgia, out of Kell High School in Marietta. 

Vols now have one 5-star, nine 4-stars, nine 3-stars

Smith, out of North Side High School in Jackson, Tenn., is the No. 24 in-state prospect according to the Rivals rankings.

Rouse and Smith followed July commitments defensive lineman Darryl Rivers, cornerback Jamyan Theodore, linebacker TJ White and defensive lineman Dereon Albert. 

The June commitments were athlete Legend Bey, cornerback Zaydyn Anderson, edge rusher Kedric Golston II, interior offensive lineman Edward Baker, safety Luke Thompson and safety KJ McClain.

Edge rusher Zach Groves started the run of commitments on May 21.

Quarterback Faizon Brandon headlines 2026 class for Vols

Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon headlines Tennessee’s 2026 class as the No. 13 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 3 quarterback in the class and the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina.   

The Vols have nine four-star commitments and nine three-star commitments.

The four-star commitments are TJ White, Brayden Rouse, Gabriel Osenda, Tyreek King, Zach Groves, Legend Bey and Carson Sneed. The three-stars are Zaydyn Anderson, KJ McCalin, CJ Edwards, Braylon Outlaw, Darryl Rivers, Jamyan Theodore, Javonte Smith, Luke Thompson and Edward Baker.

The On3 ratings have King, out of Knoxville’s Catholic High School, as the No. 75 overall prospect and ranked No. 10 at wide receiver. Osenda is ranked No. 102 nationally and is the No. 9 offensive tackle in the class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Groves, from East Robertson High School in Cross Plains, Tenn., is ranked No. 255 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 28 edge rusher in the class and the No. 7 in-state prospect. 

Sneed is ranked No. 327 overall, is the No. 16 tight end in the country and is the No. 11 in-state prospect, out of Donelson Christian Academy in Nashville. 

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