ESPN tabs ‘under-the-radar’ player for Tennessee Vols in 2026
Tennessee has a number of new faces on the roster for 2026, but one who had a notable spring game performance could be the payer to keep an eye on.
The Tennessee Volunteers, as with many teams nowadays in the transfer portal era, will have a number of new faces manning key positions in 2026.
The Vols’ defense, in particular, has been rebuilt from the studs. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles brought a number of his former players with him from Penn State, including DE Chaz Coleman, DL Xavier Gilliam, LB Amare Campbell, and SAF Dejuan Lane. Knowles and Josh Heupel attracted a number of other notable transfers last portal cycle as well.
However, the one name to remember could come on the offensive side of the ball. ESPN put out its list of one under-the-radar player for each top 25 team. For Tennessee at No. 25, transfer running back Javin Gordon got the nod.
ESPN names RB Javin Gordon as ‘under-the-radar’ player for Tennessee in 2026
“The Vols had a need at running back, and filled it with the Tulane transfer,” Lyles wrote. “Gordon ran for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, impressing the veterans on the Green Wave with his work ethic. One teammate last season, receiver Bryce Bohanon, said Gordon was already doing things most players take time to get accustomed to in order to have a successful transition from high school to college. As he takes a step up joining the SEC, that work ethic will be crucial in having success.”
Gordon transferred to Tennessee from Tulane after the 2025 season. A rising sophomore out of Toccoa, GA, Gordon had 516 rushing yards and five rushing scores as well as 13 catches for 93 yards and another touchdown last season for the Green Wave.
DeSean Bishop should be the entrenched starter for Tennessee after rushing for 1076 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. However, the 5-10, 210-pound Gordon had a solid spring and could push for a RB2 role, as VolQuest’s Austin Price noted before the spring game.
“Javin Gordon has a chance to get more run,” said Price. “… Gordon’s an interesting player. Low center of gravity. Kind of like a bowling ball, to a degree. To me, he’s a nice change of pace. He’s not just like DeSean Bishop. He’s not as muscular, but I think [he] is just more of a low center of gravity running back.
“Gordon comes in having started five games at Tulane last year. And has some confidence to himself. I think he really fits well in with the other running backs in the room. He’s not a huge personality, but he has a self-confidence about himself that he feels like he can have success.”
Gordon followed up a strong spring football with one of the biggest plays of spring football, breaking off a 61-yard touchdown run.
We’ll see if Gordon can secure that RB2 spot once fall camp gets going, but he certainly had about as good of a start as he could so far with the Vols.
