5-Star Receiver Commits to Vols
It was already a big weekend for Tennessee. They kick-off their 2025 football season in Atlanta tomorrow against Syracuse at Mercedes Benz stadium (Noon EST).
But a kid from Hattiesburg, MS made the weekend even bigger.
Thursday, five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys, the top-ranked wideout in the country and the No. 7 overall prospect, decommitted from LSU and pledged to play for the Vols.
This is the type of recruiting victory that changes narratives. When Keys first committed to the Tigers back in March, it caught many off guard. LSU had momentum, but the Vols never went away. Josh Heupel and his staff stayed relentless, keeping the pressure on and continuing to make Keys feel like Knoxville was home. That persistence paid off in a major way.
Keys brings everything you’d expect from a No. 1 receiver in the nation. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, he’s an elite contested-catch weapon who combines length, body control, and a massive catch radius. His junior season numbers (58 catches for over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns) show why he’s coveted. He’s a natural ball tracker, polished enough as a route runner to create separation, and physical enough to attack defenders after the catch. He’s the type of player who can step on the field at Neyland early in his career and make an immediate impact.
Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class now features a loaded wide receiver group. With Keys joining Tyreek King, Legend Bey, and Salesi Moa, the Vols have assembled a pass-catching corps that looks to have the potential to take Tennessee to the next level. Keys himself compared the Vols’ receiver class as the “2016 Golden State Warriors.” Pair that group with five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, considered by some sites as the No.1 QB in the country, and it’s easy to see why fans are buzzing about the future of Heupel’s offense.
The timing also couldn’t be more fitting. Tennessee recently announced its future move back to Adidas, and the brand was quick to celebrate Keys’ commitment on social media. Keys himself signed an NIL partnership with Adidas earlier this summer, underscoring how the program’s new apparel deal could provide another layer of recruiting firepower in the years ahead.
With the addition of Keys, Tennessee now moves into the Top 10 of the recruiting rankings, landing at the No. 9 spot nationally per On3’s Industry Rankings.
The Vols aren’t finished just yet. They will try to flip the No. 99 player nationally, Huntsville, AL edge defender Hezekiah Harris, away from Auburn on Monday.
Tennessee will also continue to evaluate senior film throughout the fall to see if there are any under-the-radar players they can identify.
The Vols may have missed on 5-star running back Savion Hiter earlier this month, but flipping Tristen Keys more than makes up for it. It’s a program-defining recruiting win, and it’s a reminder that Tennessee’s rise on the national stage is only just beginning.
Titans Roster Taking Shape
The Titans have trimmed their roster down to the final 53 this week as we wrap up the final week of the off-season. Tennessee beat-writer Jim Wyatt provided a breakdown of the roster by position:
Quarterbacks (2):
Cam Ward
Brandon Allen
Running Backs (3):
Tony Pollard
Julius Chestnut
Kalel Mullings
Receivers (6):
Calvin Ridley
Van Jefferson
Tyler Lockett
Bryce Oliver
Elic Ayomanor
Chimere Dike
Tight Ends (3):
Chig Okonkwo
Gunnar Helm
David Martin-Robinson
Offensive Line (9):
C Lloyd Cushenberry
LG Peter Skoronski
LT Dan Moore Jr.
RG Kevin Zeitler
RT JC Latham
OL Blake Hance
G Jackson Slater
T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
T Olisaemeka Udoh
Defensive Line (6):
DT Jeffery Simmons
NT T’Vondre Sweat
DE Sebastian Joseph-Day
DL James Lynch
DL C.J. Ravenell
DT Shy Tuttle
Linebackers (9):
ILB Cody Barton
ILB Cedric Gray
ILB James Williams Sr.
LB Dorian Mausi
OLB Arden Key
OLB Dre’Mont Jones
OLB Jaylen Harrell
OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo
OLB Jihad Ward
Cornerbacks (7):
L’Jarius Sneed
Darrell Baker Jr.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
Roger McCreary
Jalyn Davis-Armour
Samuel Womack III
Marcus Harris
Safeties (5):
Amani Hooker
Xavier Woods
Quandre Diggs
Mike Brown
Kevin Winston Jr.
Specialists (3):
K Joey Slye
P Johnny Hekker
LS Morgan Cox
Practice Squad (13; 3 spots open)
WR Mason Kinsey
WR Xavier Restrepo
WR James Proche II
QB Trevor Siemian
OL Andrew Rupcich
DT Isaiah Raikes
DE Ali Gaye
RB Jordan Mims
DB Kendell Brooks
DT Cam Horsley
RB Jermar Jefferson
DB Amani Oruwariye
DE Carlos Watkins
TE Thomas Odukoya
Rick Barnes Agrees to Lifetime Contract
When Tennessee hired Rick Barnes in 2015, it was viewed as a “stabilizing” hire that would provide damage-control to the mess created by its predecessors. Coming off the Donnie Tyndall fiasco, the program needed credibility and stability, and Barnes looked like a short-term fixer rather than the face of the future. A respected veteran, yes, but one many assumed was just a temporary bridge until Tennessee found its long-term guy.
Instead, the coach who was supposed to steady the ship became the captain of the program’s most successful run in school history.
Under Barnes, Tennessee has soared to heights not seen over the decades of the program. The Vols have made seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, gone to two consecutive Elite Eights, and collected multiple Sweet 16 trips. They’ve stacked more than 200 wins since 2017, captured two SEC regular season titles, and won their first SEC Tournament since 1978. Just as important to fans, Barnes has turned the Kentucky rivalry upside down, going .500 against the Wildcats and breaking through in Rupp Arena after decades of futility.
It’s no wonder athletic director Danny White wanted to erase any doubt about Barnes’ future. The newly announced “lifetime contract” ensures Barnes can coach in Knoxville as long as he chooses. It’s less about the technical details and more about sending a clear message: Tennessee basketball is his program for as long as he wants it.
What’s remarkable isn’t just the results, but it’s the way Barnes has adapted. While many coaches of his generation have walked away from the chaos of NIL and the transfer portal, Barnes has leaned into it. His straight-talking, no-frills approach resonates with veteran players who want honesty, opportunity, and development. Dalton Knecht’s rise to All-American status during the 2023/2024 season was the perfect advertisement for what Barnes can do with driven transfers, and newcomers like Chaz Lanier only reinforced that reputation.
Barnes hasn’t abandoned the high school ranks either. Just this summer, Tennessee landed blue-chip forward Nate Ament, beating out traditional powers like Duke. His recruiting, both with transfers and prep stars, remains as sharp as ever.
At 71, Barnes insists he’ll only quit when the fire goes out, and from all indications, that moment isn’t close. What once looked like a short-term patch has become the foundation of something lasting. On Rocky Top, Rick Barnes is here to stay.