Trail Tidbits: Recruiting picking up for No.5 Vols after 4-0 start

No.5 Tennessee is off to a fast start through four games to the 2025 season. The Vols are off this week, and then head to Arkansas the first week of October, before returning home for a crucial home stand. Things are picking up on the recruiting trail, and Volquest dives into the latest.

Vols battling to hold OL commitment Utu with Oregon trending

Oregon has turned up the heat on four-star Bishop Gorman offensive lineman Douglas Utu over the last couple of months. Over the weekend, On3 Insider’s Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong predicted the Ducks to pull off the flip of the coveted prospect. Volquest shares the latest on the recruiting coming out of the weekend.

Isaiah Campbell decommits from Clemson, set to visit Tennessee

Elite defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell has been high on Tennessee’s 2025 recruiting board for months, but after he committed to Clemson over the winter, the Vols faced an uphill battle. Tennessee worked to get Campbell back to campus on multiple occasions, but he never made the decision to de-commit from the Tigers and make the trek back to Rocky Top. Now, Campbell has backed off of his pledge and is set to visit the Vols the weekend of the Alabama game.

Commits and top recruits are impressed by Tennessee’s 4-0 start

5-star Tennessee QB commit Faizon Brandon

“The 4-0 start Tennessee has shows how much work they have put in and how focused they have been. I think they will keep getting better and won’t let up because they know this is just the beginning!”

4-star Tennessee QB commit George MacIntyre

“Anyone who has been around this program isn’t surprised by the start. Something special is building in Knoxville, and I can’t wait to be a part of it!”

2026 4-star Tennessee EDGE target Rodney Dunham

“I think it is great that they have started 4-0. It shows they are a strong team and the defense is playing great. A serious culture is being built at Tennessee, and it looks like they are going to be good for a while.

2026 4-star CB target Samari “Smoke” Matthews

“Tennessee is looking really good to start this season. I have been impressed with their current start, especially that defense. They are flying around and making plays.”

3-star Tennessee DB commit Tyler Redmond

“I feel like Tennessee is heading in the right direction and playing phenomenal football right now. We know the offense is good, but I feel like this team is built off defense with how well the back end is playing with the defensive front. I feel like this season is going to be special and can’t wait to see what is in store for Tennessee for the rest of the season.”

4-star Tennessee DB commit Lagonza “Shaedy” Hayward

“4-0 is a great start, and I am loving being a Vol. The transfer corner, Jermod McCoy, is having a great season and the front line is looking great and causing havoc and the linebackers are flying around playing ball.”

4-star Tennessee DB commit Onis Konanbanny

“I’ve seen a resilient team that has been putting in the work all spring and summer, and it shows. I would not want to be committed anywhere else. Their defense has set the standard.”

3-star Tennessee DB commit Dylan Lewis

“Tennessee’s 4-0 start has shown how balanced their team is this season. The defense has stepped up, creating turnovers and getting stops when it matters, while the offense has shown flashes of explosiveness. If they keep building on this momentum, they could be in great shape for the tougher part of their schedule.”

2026 4-star OL target Darius Gray

“This is not surprising at all! The practice and the teaching they do speaks for itself!”

2025 4-star Tennessee EDGE commit Jayden Loftin

“We are off to a great start! It feels even better because no one expected us to be as good as we are. Under Coach Heup you can see there is a new swag in Knoxville, and I love it. The defense is balling out and forcing team to have to beat us by simply being better than us and there is not a lot of teams in the country that are better than the Vols, and I can stand by that.”

2026 4-star WR Target Brody Keefe

“I think that the 4-0 start brings in an important factor for me when thinking about my upcoming decisions in schools. I think for me it has just been good seeing how they have been using the passing game as a tool in their offense.”

2025 3-star Tennessee DB commit Tre Poteat

“It’s been great to see the defense balling especially Jermod McCoy, and seeing how Coach Nez has been able to develop him into an elite cornerback.”

2026 4-star WR target Travis Johnson

“I think Tennessee has got off to a tremendous start! I love how the receivers have been being used. I cannot wait to get back there for a game in a few weeks!”

2025 3-star Tennessee RB commit Justin Baker

“I feel like this is the year we can win the whole thing. We definitely have the talent to do it, and we are putting the whole country on notice right now.”

2025 4-star Tennessee WR commit Travis Smith

“It has been great to witness winning become the outcome of the hard work they have been putting in!!”

2026 4-star Tennessee TE commit Carson Sneed

“I love the way everything is looking from the defense to the offense. I am liking all of the 12 personnel they are playing in, proving they don’t have to spread everyone to the numbers. Also, I love the touches the tight ends are getting. Personally, I think things couldn’t look better for a player like me headed to that offense.”

2025 4-star Tennessee EDGE commit Mariyon Dye

“It feels good (to see Tennessee start 4-0). Our defense is crazy. They have a good chance in winning a national championship this year!”

2025 4-star DL commit Charles House

“Tennessee looks really strong on both offense and defense. Nico has been going crazy breaking down the defense and the defense has been playing lights out making big game changing plays.”