Josh Heupel’s latest comments have Vols fans talking about Jaxson Moi and a potential return to Tennessee in 2026
There’s some hope that former Tennessee Vols defensive lineman Jaxson Moi could return to Rocky Top in 2026.
There’s been speculation in recent days that former Tennessee Vols defensive lineman Jaxson Moi could return to UT for the 2026 season.
U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney ruled last week that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.
Moi, who is currently a rookie in training camp with the Los Angeles Rams after signing with the franchise as an undrafted free agent, is a class of 2022 player, and he fought for another season of eligibility earlier this year. It was only after learning he wouldn’t be granted another season of eligibility that he entered the NFL Draft.
“I can’t even explain how much it meant to me, being a Vol,” said Moi earlier this summer. “I was trying to get a fifth year and come back and play this upcoming season — just because of all the games that I missed, and with the NCAA possibly talking about passing the five for five (rule).
“But being a Vol, it meant everything to me. I get emotional talking about it. Just because sometimes I get in my head. I feel like I wish I would have finished a little bit stronger than I did, but I’m going to be a Vol for the rest of my life. The relationships and the friendships that I made there, they’re going to stick with me forever. And I tell my family that Tennessee is my second home. I can see myself living out in Knoxville again… I’m a Vol for life, no doubt.”
Moi added to the speculation in a since-deleted tweet that said, “Interesting.”
The NCAA is appealing the ruling from Judge Sweeney. Additionally, the NCAA has stated that players who signed NFL contracts won’t be eligible to return.
That seemingly rules out Moi as an option to return to Tennessee this fall. (Though no one really knows what is what anymore…)
Vols head coach Josh Heupel, however, said on Tuesday that Tennessee is exploring adding players from the 2022 class after the recent ruling.
“[We’re] in exploration,” said Heupel when asked about players from the 2022 class who are now eligible to play in 2026. “Some of the details and what it’s all going to look like still is being worked through, but [we’re] looking at those things.”
Moi is the player who would make the most sense for the Vols because he could slot right into the defensive line rotation.
Defensive lineman Tyre West is another class of 2022 player, but he was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, so that doesn’t seem like a viable option even if Tennessee finds a workaround for the NCAA’s stance on eligibility concerning players who have signed NFL contracts.
