We took a look at Tennessee’s early depth chart and, yeah, it’s time to start making hotel reservations for January
The Tennessee Vols are really flying under the radar ahead of the 2026 college football season, and they shouldn’t be.
Charlie Burris and I went through the entire Tennessee Vols roster on this week’s Big Orange Podcast, and it was the first time I’d really sat down and evaluated every position group in one sitting.
I came away feeling really good about what Tennessee can accomplish in 2026. The talent is there. The depth is there. The biggest question remains the same one that’s lingered all offseason: quarterback play.
The Tennessee offense has the tools to be dangerous
George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon are battling for the starting job, and whoever wins it has to operate the offense at a high level. They have to avoid catastrophic plays, make the right decisions, and hit the layups. The deep passes that Tennessee has missed at times in recent years can’t be given away — explosive plays are how you win in the SEC.
But the rest of the roster gives whoever starts plenty to work with.
Running back DeSean Bishop is a workhorse. He’s going to be the featured guy, with quality depth behind him in transfer Javin Gordon and Daune Morris. Bishop will be the bell cow back, maybe not quite to the extent that Dylan Sampson was in 2024 (we saw how beat up Sampson was by the end of that season), but he’ll be in the game on the Vols’ most important drives. If you need five yards, Bishop’s going to get you seven.
The wide receiver room is extremely talented. I think Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are both in store for a huge year. I’ve always been a big fan of Staley, especially after some of the adversity he overcame last season. Matthews had a solid sophomore season, but a lot of insiders think he can reach another level this fall. He might be the most athletic guy on the team (he made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List this week), and I think you’re going to see him at his best this fall.
The competition at the third receiver spot is something everyone is watching in fall camp. Radarious Jackson showed some elite skills last year. Travis Smith has a lot of upside entering his second year and has had a good fall camp. TK Keys is a sensational true freshman, and Tyreek King could battle for backup duties behind Staley in the slot. Joakim Dodson is also competing for snaps in the slot. It might be a young group, but it’s really talented.
At tight end, Ethan Davis is the guy if he can stay healthy. He’s a big-time red zone threat who showed last season he’s capable in the blocking game. Dasaahn Brame is someone I’m really excited about. He’s such a potential mismatch. He’s a great route runner who can catch the ball well. Who’s going to cover him? He’s too big for a defensive back. He may be too fast for a linebacker. The question is his blocking development (which is reportedly improving). Tennessee also brought in transfer Trent Thomas to help in the run game, plus freshman Luca Wolf is making noise in fall camp.
The offensive line is exciting. David Sanders anchors the left tackle spot, and Wendell Moe is a beast at left guard who’s already getting preseason recognition. Sam Pendleton will start at center, but Nic Moore is pushing him, which creates the kind of competition that position hasn’t had in recent years. The right side is still shaking out between Jesse Perry (he’s gonna play, it’s just whether he’s at right guard or right tackle), Ory Williams (the LSU transfer), Donovan Haslam, and Sham Umarov. The depth there is really important because offensive line depth is extremely hard to build in this era of college football.
The defense has star power and one big question mark
The defensive line is the biggest question mark on the roster. Xavier Gilliam, the Penn State transfer Tennessee paid a lot of money to get, is having a great fall camp. Daevin Hobbs will be a key player if he stays healthy, and Nathan Robinson has generated a lot of buzz. JJ Finch is a true freshman who is expected to make an impact this fall. Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley will also play big roles.
The biggest concern is off the edge. With Chaz Coleman not working out, and Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring departing via the transfer portal, who steps up? Tennessee is going to count on transfer Jordan Norman to make a big impact. Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye will factor in as well. And maybe linebacker Arion Carter gets used off the edge some after he returns from his two-game suspension. The pass rushing is a question mark. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said it himself recently. But there’s potential there.
Linebacker is the deepest room on the entire team. Amare Campbell, the Penn State transfer, will wear the green dot. Jadon Perlotte, Edwin Spillman, Jeremiah Telander, and Carter (when he returns) give Tennessee a really nice group. True freshmen Brayden Rouse and TJ White were highly touted coming out of high school and add even more depth. That position has been a weak point for the Vols at times over the years. If it becomes a strength, it should help against the quarterback run game and the intermediate passing game – areas where Tennessee has gotten gashed in recent years.
The secondary should be much improved – even if Edrees Farooq misses significant time after suffering a leg injury in practice this week. It’s probably the best secondary the Vols have had under Josh Heupel. Ty Redmond returns as a sophomore and will be a year better in the system at cornerback. Kayin Lee, the Auburn transfer, replaces Rickey Gibson at the other starting cornerback spot (Tennessee might have upgraded a little bit there). Qua Moss will likely handle the nickelback spot. TJ Metcalf will start at safety, with either Dejuan Lane or Dylan Lewis starting at the other safety spot. Tre Poteat and Tim Merritt have received extended looks at corner during fall camp with Redmond missing some time due to an illness, which should help create more depth.
It comes down to the quarterback
Across the board, I think this is a really talented team with good depth. The defensive line has to play well (I trust that defensive line coach Rodney Gardner will have those guys ready to go). Maybe that unit ends up being much better than we expect, but it’s a question mark until we see them in action.
Otherwise, the reality is that it comes back to quarterback play. The offensive line sounds like it will protect well. The weapons in the passing game are there. The running back is dependable. Can either MacIntyre or Brandon stay calm under pressure, process well in tough environments, hit the deep shots when they’re there, and take care of the football? You can’t have the ill-advised interceptions and fumbles that cost Tennessee a couple of games last season.
I think this team might be flying under the radar a little bit. It’s a tough conference, and some of these games are going to come down to the last possession. But I think this roster has the potential to surprise some people this fall.
And if the ball bounces the Vols’ way in some of those close games, there’s no reason this team can’t make some noise in January.
