One of the best 2026 recruits in the nation is set to announce his commitment and the Tennessee Vols are in the mix
One of the top 2026 recruits in the nation will announce his commitment this week and the Tennessee Vols are one of the teams in the mix. 2026 five-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham is set to announce his commitment on April 10 at 4:00 PM ET. Dunham, 6-foot-4/227 lbs from Charlotte, NC, is rated by […]
One of the top 2026 recruits in the nation will announce his commitment this week and the Tennessee Vols are one of the teams in the mix.
2026 five-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham is set to announce his commitment on April 10 at 4:00 PM ET.
Dunham, 6-foot-4/227 lbs from Charlotte, NC, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 2 player in the state of North Carolina. He's also rated as the No. 14 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.
The talented edge rusher will be choosing between Georgia, Duke, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Tennessee.
"I have always liked Tennessee for a while," said Dunham recently to 247Sports of his interest in the Vols. "It's a great school. Coach (Josh) Heupel is a really good coach and a good person. I love the atmosphere on game day."
Notre Dame is viewed as the favorite to land Dunham's commitment this week, but this recruiting battle won't end on April 10 when the North Carolina native announces his decision.
Scouting report via 247Sports: High-upside pass rusher that has a chance to emerge as a true difference-maker on Saturdays with his frame and athleticism. On the younger side for the class and is hoping to play two sports in college as he’s also a talented pitcher. Still green when it comes to the technique, but has put encouraging spells of play on tape as he can dip and bend while coming around the corner before getting home with his gap-closing burst. Lacks the desired anchor strength at this stage, but ability to plant and change course leads to his fair share of run stops in pursuit. Has experience operating out of both a two- and three-point stance in an even front from a wider posting. Overall, should be viewed as a budding 5-tech full of traits that has a chance to emerge as an impact defender at the Power Four level with some seasoning.
Dunham has several official visits scheduled later this spring/summer. For now, Tennessee is scheduled to receive Dunham's final official visit (on June 20, a week after he takes his official visit to Notre Dame).
The Vols will continue to aggressively pursue Dunham even if he commits to Notre Dame on Thursday. Dunham has the potential to be a superstar in college football, which is why he's generating so much interest from the nation's top programs.
