ESPN praises Vols true freshman with ‘rare’ trait that Tennessee football could lean on in 2026
The Tennessee Vols finished the 2026 recruiting cycle with the No. 9 class in the nation. Thanks to a lack of depth across the sport due to the transfer portal, several true freshmen will likely see action for the Vols in 2026.
The Tennessee Vols signed several players during the 2026 recruiting cycle who will likely contribute in some way this fall.
Thanks to the lack of depth across college football — due to the transfer portal — more true freshmen than ever are seeing significant playing time.
ESPN praises Vols true freshman with “rare” trait
On Friday, ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill shared some thoughts on some of the top true freshmen in college football.
Haubert and Luginbill pointed out Vols true freshman linebacker TJ White, a former four-star recruit, as a player who Tennessee could lean on in certain situations in 2026.
They specifically pointed out that White brings a “rare three‑step explosion off the edge”.
“Tennessee adds a high‑motor, confident and versatile defender in White, whose combination of length, burst and production projects him as an immediate fit in the Volunteers’ front seven,” wrote Haubert and Luginbill. “The 2025 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year closed his prep career with 88 tackles and 12 sacks while leading Jackson Academy to a state title, showing he can both make plays in space and finish with thump in the box.
“White is scheme-versatile and brings the rare three‑step explosion off the edge, plus enough agility to drop and cover. That gives Tennessee flexibility to use him as a stand‑up rusher, an outside linebacker hybrid or in sub packages. His physical profile and reactive athleticism fit the Volunteers’ aggressive, multiple front scheme. Expect Tennessee to lean on his downhill power in short-yardage situations and his burst on obvious passing downs while he develops into a more complete every‑down player.”
Vols linebackers coach William Inge had some big praise for White earlier this spring, too.
“TJ, let’s say from a physical standpoint, to see how his body has evolved has been awesome,” said Inge in late March. “We know for him, you have to say whoa instead of sick ’em — because when he comes to hit somebody, he’s coming to hit.”
White, 6-foot-2/240 pounds from Jackson, MS, was rated by 247Sports as the No. 3 linebacker in the nation and the No. 2 player in the state of Mississippi. He was also rated as the No. 34 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class, which means he just barely missed being a five-star recruit.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Vols use White this fall. Tennessee’s linebacker room is extremely deep, so his best bet to see action as a true freshman will probably be in the hybrid pass rushing role mentioned by Haubert and Luginbill.
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