The Tennessee Volunteers have gained two new football commitments, bringing their total to 11 recruits for the 2026 cycle.

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The Tennessee Volunteers Have Gained Two New Football Commitments, Bringing Their Total to 11 Recruits for the 2026 Cycle

The Tennessee Volunteers are heating up on the recruiting trail once again, this time notching two pivotal commitments that have elevated their 2026 class total to 11 prospects. With these additions, the Vols are signaling that they’re not merely trying to keep pace in the ever-competitive SEC—they’re intent on building a roster that can challenge for the College Football Playoff in the near future.

Head coach Josh Heupel and his staff continue to push forward with relentless recruiting energy, and the latest haul reflects a well-orchestrated strategy. The two newest commits—a four-star linebacker out of Georgia and a high-upside wide receiver from Tennessee’s own backyard—bring not only talent but positional balance and much-needed depth at key spots.

The linebacker, Malachi Brewer, out of Carrollton High School in Georgia, is widely considered one of the top 10 linebacker prospects in the country. At 6’2″, 225 pounds, Brewer combines sideline-to-sideline speed with instinctual tackling ability and a fierce presence in the box. He’s a modern-day SEC linebacker: quick enough to cover tight ends and shifty backs in space, and strong enough to be a tone-setter in run defense. His commitment gives Tennessee a major defensive win over multiple SEC rivals, including Florida, Auburn, and Ole Miss, all of whom were in hot pursuit.

Brewer made his announcement during an event at his high school’s fieldhouse, donning the orange cap and declaring, “I want to be part of something that’s building for the future—and Tennessee is where that future is being shaped.”

Just hours after Brewer’s commitment, the Vols secured another weapon for their offense: three-star wide receiver Darius “D.J.” Smalls from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Smalls is a name many in-state recruiting analysts have circled for months. A 6’1″, 185-pound playmaker with long strides and excellent leaping ability, Smalls brings verticality to the receiver corps. He’s posted a string of highlight-reel catches in camps this offseason and has impressed with his route-running and quick-twitch separation in one-on-one matchups.

His commitment to Tennessee comes as a major in-state recruiting win, especially given that Kentucky, Virginia Tech, and Mississippi State were pressing hard in recent weeks. Smalls visited campus during Tennessee’s “Rocky Top Rising” summer event and reportedly left blown away by the facilities, coaching staff, and the camaraderie among current commits.

“It just felt like home,” Smalls said in a statement. “The coaching staff made it clear they have a plan for me. I see myself catching touchdowns in Neyland and helping bring Tennessee back to the top.”

These two commitments cap off a stretch of recruiting momentum that began in late spring. Since early May, the Vols have landed six commitments—two offensive linemen, two defensive backs, and now a linebacker and wideout—each one meeting specific needs on the current and projected depth chart.

With 11 total recruits in the 2026 class now pledged, Tennessee’s class sits in the top 12 nationally, according to most major recruiting services. More importantly, the structure of the class suggests a balance that Heupel and recruiting coordinator Kelsey Pope have been meticulous in building.

The class is anchored by four-star quarterback Carter Wiley from Brentwood, Tennessee, who committed in March and has since taken on the role of vocal recruiter. Wiley has made it a personal mission to build Tennessee’s best class since 2020, reaching out to fellow prospects on social media and organizing group visits to campus.

“Carter’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve met,” Pope said. “He wants to win on the field, and he wants to win in recruiting. That attitude is contagious, and it’s helping us lock in guys who want to build something special here.”

That something special isn’t just a talking point—it’s a vision now rooted in results. Under Heupel, Tennessee has gone from a rebuilding program to one that’s consistently relevant on the national stage. The 2022 breakthrough season that included a win over Alabama and an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson gave the Volunteers a surge of credibility. The follow-up seasons have shown that the momentum wasn’t a one-hit wonder.

Facilities have been upgraded. NIL infrastructure has grown. The program has invested in sports science, development, and the recruiting department in ways that rival the SEC’s best.

And that effort is paying off in relationships with high school coaches across the region.

“I tell my kids if Tennessee comes calling, you listen,” said one Georgia high school coach whose players have been recruited by the Vols. “They’ve built a culture there. It’s not just hype. They care about player development, about putting kids in the NFL, about helping them grow as men. And that matters.”

It certainly mattered to Brewer, whose relationship with Tennessee’s defensive coordinator Tim Banks was a decisive factor in his recruitment. Banks visited Brewer’s school twice in the spring evaluation period, and their bond only grew during a private campus visit in June.

“Coach Banks made it personal,” Brewer said. “He showed me where I fit in their defense and how they see me becoming a leader early. It wasn’t about just throwing offers around—it was about fit, and that’s what I was looking for.”

For Smalls, the pull of staying in-state was ultimately too strong to resist. After blossoming into one of Middle Tennessee’s top prospects, he said the idea of playing in front of family and wearing the jersey he grew up cheering for tipped the scales.

“It’s different when it’s your state school,” he said. “You feel that pride. And now I get to be part of something that means more than just football. It’s legacy.”

With SEC expansion on the horizon and recruiting competition fiercer than ever, Tennessee’s ability to hold serve in its backyard and make headway in talent-rich states like Georgia is critical. The additions of Brewer and Smalls mark success on both fronts.

What’s more, there’s a sense within the Tennessee recruiting office that this class is far from finished. Multiple top targets are expected to make summer decisions, and Tennessee is in strong position for several of them—including a pair of top-100 defensive linemen and a highly coveted running back out of Texas. With the 2026 cycle still in its early stages, the Vols are in striking distance of a top-5 national finish if they continue this trajectory.

Recruiting analysts around the region are taking notice.

“This is a staff that’s recruiting with purpose,” said 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong. “They’re identifying kids that fit their scheme and culture, not just chasing rankings. But at the same time, they’re winning battles against major programs. That’s the recipe for sustained success.”

Indeed, that recipe is starting to yield results on the field. The 2023 and 2024 classes are already contributing, with several players from those groups expected to start or play meaningful snaps this fall. The vision Heupel pitched in living rooms across the South is beginning to materialize in orange and white.

As Tennessee builds toward a future that includes expanded playoffs, high-profile non-conference games, and the challenge of battling Georgia, Texas, and Alabama in the restructured SEC, the 2026 recruiting class will serve as a crucial foundation.

The Vols’ staff knows that recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint. But with two more pieces now in place, Tennessee is once again proving that it’s sprinting forward while keeping the long game in focus.

And in Knoxville, the excitement is building. With each commitment tweet, each visit photo, and each “Go Vols” from a rising prospect, the feeling grows: Tennessee is not just back—it’s building something that could last.

The class of 2026 is shaping up as one of vision, talent, and alignment. And with 11 commits now secured, the Volunteers are not only stacking wins on the field—they’re stacking bricks for a future that just might take them to the pinnacle of college football once again.