The Tennessee Vols have a talented group of true freshmen — the 2026 recruiting class is Josh Heupel’s highest rated class so far at UT — so it’s inevitable that a couple of those young players will help the program this fall (a la cornerback Ty Redmond in 2025).

Most of the attention on the Vols’ 2026 class has focused on quarterback Faizon Brandon and wide receiver TK Keys (and for good reason), but they’re far from the only true freshmen who could make a big impact this upcoming season.

One true freshman on the defensive side of the ball who’s expected to contribute immediately in 2026 is defensive lineman JJ Finch.

Vols true freshman DL JJ Finch is a player to watch

Finch, 6-foot-3/293 pounds from Indianapolis, IN, was a four-star defensive lineman in the 2026 class. He initially committed to Alabama before flipping to Tennessee during the early signing period last December.

VolQuest’s Austin Price and Brent Hubbs each pointed out Finch on Tuesday as a player to watch during fall camp.

“JJ Finch at the defensive tackle spot is someone that I’m watching early in fall camp,” said Price on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “He’s got something to him that the coaches are really, really high on.”

“JJ Finch is one that’s probably going to help this fall,” added Hubbs on WNML’s SportsTalk.

Another true freshman defender who could push for playing time is defensive back Jamyan Theodore, 6-foot/173 pounds from Montreal (he played high school ball at Baylor School in Chattanooga).

“I think Jamyan Theodore in the secondary is another guy that athletically does everything you want him to do,” said Hubbs on Tuesday. “And I think that’s a guy that they’re excited about. Now, he doesn’t necessarily have to show up and do a lot right now. I think he’s going to be a special teams guy (to start with), but we’ll see.”

Tennessee has a lot of young exciting talent, and several of those players will get a chance to play this fall due to some of the Vols’ older “depth pieces” leaving the program via the transfer portal.