Over the last month, USA TODAY High School Sports has looked at some of the best football prospects from the country’s recruiting hotbeds.
The series started with the best 2026 recruits out of Texas before heading to Florida, west to California, and east to Georgia and Alabama.
This time, we’ll head to the Volunteer State. Here are the top 2026 recruits to keep an eye on from Tennessee.
Jared Curtis
School: Nashville Christian (Nashville)
Position: Quarterback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: A former Georgia pledge and one of the nation’s top recruits, Curtis is inching closer and closer to Decision Day.
The five-star signal-caller will decide between Georgia and Oregon on May 5. He visited both schools in March and has officials lined up for both in June.
Whoever misses out will likely not get their official from him.
Joel Wyatt
School: The Webb School (Bell Buckle)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Tennessee is the runaway favorite to keep Wyatt in the Volunteer State.
A 6-foot-4 weapon outside, Wyatt caught 44 passes for 890 yards and 10 touchdowns during his junior season.
Tyreek King
School: Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Tennessee
Summary: The Fighting Irish had their struggles last year, but King’s play was not one of the reasons for those struggles.
He was easily one of the state’s top offensive threats, catching 49 passes for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. King committed to Tennessee last Halloween.
Zach Groves
School: East Robertson (Cross Plains)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Groves stands out on a field before even taking a snap. Then, when the ball is snapped, he’s almost immediately in the backfield every time.
The 6-foot-2.5, 225-pounder is the state’s top-rusher. He recently visited USC for two days and is set to take an official back to Los Angeles on June 20.
Craig Tutt
School: Oakland (Murfreesboro)
Position: Safety
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Oakland continually puts out Division I talent, and Tutt is the latest product of that system. While he led the Patriots in rushing last season, Tutt made his biggest impact on defense.
While he has no officials lined up, he expects programs like Auburn, Ole Miss, and SMU to remain heavily involved in his recruitment.
Caden Harris
School: Haywood (Brownsville)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Harris’ recruitment has quickly blown up and for good reason. A weapon on both sides of the ball, he’s at his best playing corner.
The spring will be a busy one for the Tomcat standout. He has official visits lined up to Vanderbilt (May 30), Notre Dame (June 3), Georgia (June 6), Auburn (June 13) and Missouri (June 20).
Gabriel Osenda
School: Baylor (Chattanooga)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Tennessee landed a massive win on January 11 when Osenda announced his commitment to the Vols.
Playing for one of the state’s top programs loaded with Division I talent, the 6-foot-7, 305-pounder still stands out amongst his peers.
Kamari Blair
School: Kirkwood (Clarksville)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Blair’s recruitment blew up last year, and for good reason. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, he already looks like a Division I lineman.
Blair, the city of Clarksville’s top prospect, has programs like South Carolina, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky all nipping at his heels.
Justin Hopkins
School: Ensworth (Nashville)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Minnesota
Summary: While everyone assumed Hopkins was headed to Tennessee to join some of his former Ensworth teammates, he flipped the script, committing to Minnesota earlier in the year.
A standout on both sides of the ball for the Tigers, he’s at his best defensively and excels as a shutdown corner.
Chaston Smith
School: McCallie (Chattanooga)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Notre Dame
Summary: Smith’s junior season was cut to just five games due to an injury during the first half of the season.
That doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s easily one of the state’s top recruits. He committed to Notre Dame over Clemson, Indiana, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M on December 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Recruiting rankings: Top 2026 Tennessee high school football prospects
Over the last month, USA TODAY High School Sports has looked at some of the best football prospects from the country’s recruiting hotbeds.
The series started with the best 2026 recruits out of Texas before heading to Florida, west to California, and east to Georgia and Alabama.
This time, we’ll head to the Volunteer State. Here are the top 2026 recruits to keep an eye on from Tennessee.
Jared Curtis
School: Nashville Christian (Nashville)
Position: Quarterback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: A former Georgia pledge and one of the nation’s top recruits, Curtis is inching closer and closer to Decision Day.
The five-star signal-caller will decide between Georgia and Oregon on May 5. He visited both schools in March and has officials lined up for both in June.
Whoever misses out will likely not get their official from him.
Joel Wyatt
School: The Webb School (Bell Buckle)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Tennessee is the runaway favorite to keep Wyatt in the Volunteer State.
A 6-foot-4 weapon outside, Wyatt caught 44 passes for 890 yards and 10 touchdowns during his junior season.
Tyreek King
School: Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Tennessee
Summary: The Fighting Irish had their struggles last year, but King’s play was not one of the reasons for those struggles.
He was easily one of the state’s top offensive threats, catching 49 passes for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. King committed to Tennessee last Halloween.
Zach Groves
School: East Robertson (Cross Plains)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Groves stands out on a field before even taking a snap. Then, when the ball is snapped, he’s almost immediately in the backfield every time.
The 6-foot-2.5, 225-pounder is the state’s top-rusher. He recently visited USC for two days and is set to take an official back to Los Angeles on June 20.
Craig Tutt
School: Oakland (Murfreesboro)
Position: Safety
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Oakland continually puts out Division I talent, and Tutt is the latest product of that system. While he led the Patriots in rushing last season, Tutt made his biggest impact on defense.
While he has no officials lined up, he expects programs like Auburn, Ole Miss, and SMU to remain heavily involved in his recruitment.
Caden Harris
School: Haywood (Brownsville)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Harris’ recruitment has quickly blown up and for good reason. A weapon on both sides of the ball, he’s at his best playing corner.
The spring will be a busy one for the Tomcat standout. He has official visits lined up to Vanderbilt (May 30), Notre Dame (June 3), Georgia (June 6), Auburn (June 13) and Missouri (June 20).
Gabriel Osenda
School: Baylor (Chattanooga)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Tennessee landed a massive win on January 11 when Osenda announced his commitment to the Vols.
Playing for one of the state’s top programs loaded with Division I talent, the 6-foot-7, 305-pounder still stands out amongst his peers.
Kamari Blair
School: Kirkwood (Clarksville)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Blair’s recruitment blew up last year, and for good reason. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, he already looks like a Division I lineman.
Blair, the city of Clarksville’s top prospect, has programs like South Carolina, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky all nipping at his heels.
Justin Hopkins
School: Ensworth (Nashville)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Minnesota
Summary: While everyone assumed Hopkins was headed to Tennessee to join some of his former Ensworth teammates, he flipped the script, committing to Minnesota earlier in the year.
A standout on both sides of the ball for the Tigers, he’s at his best defensively and excels as a shutdown corner.
Chaston Smith
School: McCallie (Chattanooga)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Notre Dame
Summary: Smith’s junior season was cut to just five games due to an injury during the first half of the season.
That doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s easily one of the state’s top recruits. He committed to Notre Dame over Clemson, Indiana, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M on December 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Recruiting rankings: Top 2026 Tennessee high school football prospects
