The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Tennessee using data from 247Sports. Players are ranked by the 247Sports Composite ranking. Here's the players from Tennessee set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
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1 / 20#20. Luke Thompson (ATH)
- National rank: #580 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #40
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Air Force, Arkansas State, Army, Cornell
- High school: Franklin (Franklin, TN)
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2 / 20#17 (tie). Yahya Gaad (DL)
- National rank: #532 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #63
- College: Wisconsin
- Offers: Wisconsin, UCLA, Arizona, Austin Peay, Colorado
- High school: South Gibson (Medina, TN)
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3 / 20#17 (tie). Keeyshawn Tabuteau (WR)
- National rank: #532 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #79
- College: Vanderbilt
- Offers: Vanderbilt, Miami, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado
- High school: McCallie School (Chattanooga, TN)
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4 / 20#17 (tie). Carson Sneed (TE)
- National rank: #532 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #29
- College: North Carolina
- Offers: North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama
- High school: Donelson Christian Academy (Nashville, TN)
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5 / 20#16. Shavar Young Jr. (ATH)
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6 / 20#15. Jack Fuchs (OT)
- National rank: #483 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #43
- College: not committed
- Offers: Penn State, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Cincinnati
- High school: Beech (Hendersonville, TN)
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7 / 20#14. Christopher Talley (RB)
- National rank: #462 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #30
- College: West Virginia
- Offers: West Virginia, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Cincinnati
- High school: Whitehaven (Memphis, TN)
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8 / 20#13. Justin Hopkins (S)
- National rank: #445 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #39
- College: Minnesota
- Offers: Minnesota, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Auburn, Charlotte
- High school: Ensworth (Nashville, TN)
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9 / 20#12. Briggs Cherry (QB)
- National rank: #410 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #29
- College: Louisville
- Offers: Louisville, Appalachian State, Charlotte, East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky
- High school: Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN)
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10 / 20MaverickZ85 // Shutterstock
11 / 20#10. Zach Groves (Edge)
- National rank: #307 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #27
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Charlotte, Eastern Kentucky
- High school: East Robertson (Cross Plains, TN)
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12 / 20#9. Peyton Dyer (CB)
- National rank: #271 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #26
- College: USC
- Offers: USC, Georgia, Appalachian State, Auburn, Duke
- High school: Tyner Academy (Chattanooga, TN)
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13 / 20#8. Chaston Smith (CB)
- National rank: #258 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #24
- College: Notre Dame
- Offers: Notre Dame, Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson
- High school: Knoxville Catholic (Chattanooga, TN)
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14 / 20#7. Kamari Blair (OT)
- National rank: #247 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #23
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Austin Peay
- High school: Kirkwood (Clarksville, TN)
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15 / 20#6. Craig Tutt (S)
- National rank: #218 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #18
- College: Ole Miss
- Offers: Ole Miss, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Charlotte
- High school: Oakland (Murfreesboro, TN)
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16 / 20#5. Gabriel Osenda (OT)
- National rank: #145 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #12
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Auburn, California, East Carolina, Florida
- High school: Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN)
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17 / 20#4. Tyreek King (WR)
- National rank: #111 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #11
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Eastern Kentucky
- High school: Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville, TN)
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18 / 20#3. Caden Harris (CB)
- National rank: #78 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #8
- College: Georgia
- Offers: Georgia, Vanderbilt, Akron, Alabama, Alabama State
- High school: Haywood (Brownsville, TN)
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19 / 20#2. Joel Wyatt (ATH)
- National rank: #59 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #5
- College: Tennessee
- Offers: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Auburn, Eastern Kentucky
- High school: Oakland (Murfreesboro, TN)
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