Week of July 7th
Football Recruiting Continues to Roll, Football Jersey Numbers, and Possible Hoops Addition?
Sound Familiar? Vols Football Recruiting Continues to Roll
Over the past week, the Vols have picked up five more commitments: defensive lineman Darryl Rivers, in-state athlete Javonte Smith, blue-chip linebacker Brayden Rouse, versatile safety Jowell Combay, and coveted tackle JB Shabazz each announced their commitments to Tennessee, upping the 2026 class to 21 commits.
Darryl Rivers
We will start with Darryl Rivers. The defensive lineman out of McEachern High School in Georgia didn’t mince words about his decision, saying Tennessee was his “dream school.” Defensive line coach Rodney Garner played a major role in sealing the deal on this one. Rivers admitted he didn’t know much about Garner before the Vols offered, but once he learned about his track record and built a relationship, it became a key part of the commitment. Head coach Josh Heupel also made a strong impression, spending time with Rivers throughout his official visit. Rivers is a high-motor defensive lineman who is known to energize a locker room.
Javonte Smith
The in-state win came with 2026 athlete Javonte Smith, a talented prospect who has the ability to play on both sides of the ball. While Arkansas pushed hard with an opportunity to play wide receiver, Tennessee sold him on his future as a defensive back, and it paid off. Smith’s length, explosiveness, and ball skills (given his experience playing wide receiver) make him an intriguing project in the secondary. He’s not the highest-ranked recruit in the class, but Tennessee saw a lot of upside and exactly what they like to develop on the back end.
Brayden Rouse
The headliner of the group is four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse from Kell High School in Georgia. Tennessee had led for months, but Texas made a late charge to try to land the coveted linebacker. Rouse and his family chose the Vols because of the relationships built with Linebackers Coach William Inge and Coach Heupel giving Tennessee a key piece in the middle of its future defense. Rouse is the son of a coach: smart, instinctual, and can make plays all over the field. He has the size and athleticism to play sideline to sideline and cover in space, which is something Tennessee’s linebacking corp has been needing. He is ranked as the No. 100 player nationally and the No. 7 linebacker in the country. Paired with other linebacker commit, TJ White, who is the No. 6 linebacker nationally, the Vols just landed the best linebacker class in the country.
Jowell Combay
Less than 24 hours after Rouse committed, his high school teammate Jowell Combay followed suit. The four-star safety is another versatile, instinctive playmaker who fits the mold of what Tennessee wants on defense. He tallied nearly 100 tackles and 10 pass breakups as a junior, showcasing both physicality and coverage ability. Combay can play deep, drop into the box, and match up with different body types.
JB Shabazz
Shabazz, one of the top 100 players in the country, committed to Tennessee late Friday afternoon at 5pm CST.
Shabazz is a 6’6”, 290-pound mauler from Winston-Salem, NC, with that blend of size, athleticism, and technique that top programs covet. He’s light on his feet, explosive off the ball, and powerful at the point of attack. He is a true “people mover” in the run game and has improved in the pass game with his quickness. The NC native is also a standout basketball player, highlighting his agility and body control.
Ranked among the top offensive tackles in the nation, Shabazz had been heavily pursued by Ohio State and South Carolina, but Tennessee’s staff made a strong impression during his June visit and closed the deal.
Looking Ahead
The Vols will also continue to swing for LSU commit Tristen Keys who is the No. 5 player nationally and the No. 1 receiver in the country. Rumblings are that a possible de-commitment from the Tigers is imminent.
Tennessee is also swinging for Savion Hiter, the No. 1 running back in the country. Hiter doesn’t share much about the recruiting process, but it sounds like this is coming down to a Michigan & Tennessee battle. Some believe that the coveted RB will make a decision in August. We will keep an eye out for that one as well.
Updated Jersey Numbers Heading into Fall
Tennessee updated its official roster for the 2025 season, and that means new jersey numbers for several returning players and assignments for newcomers. On3’s Volquest gave a breakdown of the changes:
Offensive Number Changes
Travis Smith Jr. → No. 1 (was 80)
Peyton Lewis → No. 2 (was 27)
Jack Van Dorselaer → No. 3 (was 89)
Mike Matthews → No. 4 (was 10)
Radarious Jackson → No. 5 (was 84)
DaSaahn Brame → No. 7 (was 88)
Star Thomas → No. 9 (was 33)
Daune Morris → No. 19 (was 31)
Justin Baker → No. 20 (was 28)
Jeremias Heard → No. 51 (was 60)
Nic Moore → No. 58 (was 74)
Sham Umarov → No. 74 (was 79)
Tommy Winton III → No. 84 (was 30)
Deon Hardin → No. 88 (was 38)
Defensive Number Changes
Ty Redmond → No. 4 (was 27)
Daevin Hobbs → No. 5 (was 53)
Mariyon Dye → No. 9 (was 52)
Kaleb Beasley → No. 10 (was 25)
Jordan Burns → No. 11 (was 54)
Jaedon Harmon → No. 12 (was 48)
Ethan Utley → No. 17 (was 97)
Tre Poteat → No. 21 (was 36)
Dylan Lewis → No. 24 (was 34)
Timothy Merritt → No. 25 (was 35)
Jadon Perlotte → No. 27 (was 41)
Emmanuel Okoye → No. 34 (was 98)
Carson Gentle → No. 35 (was 95)
Steele Katina → No. 41 (was 44)
Christian Gass → No. 44 (was 46)
Newcomers & First-Time Numbers
Joey Aguilar → No. 6
Colton Hood → No. 8
Mason Phillips → No. 13
Josh Rosen → No. 47
Joakim Dodgson → No. 89
Josh Schell → No. 93
Grady Dangerfield → No. 97
Charles House III → No. 99
Late Vols Hoops Addition?
It’s mid-July, and Tennessee Basketball might not be done adding to its roster. On3’s Volquest has provided some info regarding a possible late add.
The Vols recently hosted Ethan Butler Berg, a professional Israeli guard with military experience, for an official visit just before the NCAA’s July dead period. Now, both sides are waiting to see if he’ll be cleared to play college basketball, a process that thanks to NCAA red tape and international eligibility rules, remains unclear.
Sources indicate Tennessee would absolutely take Berg if he’s ruled eligible. He fits the profile of the veteran backcourt presence the staff has been quietly looking for: experienced, mature, and tough. But as it stands, both the timeline and the outcome remain uncertain.
There’s no confirmation yet on whether Tennessee is Berg’s only option, but it’s clear they’d like to get clarity soon. If anything moves, it could come quickly and unexpectedly.
Titans Training Camp
All is quiet when it comes to the Tennessee Titans. Players are working out, trying to get ready for training camp and the upcoming season. You’ve probably seen videos of Cam Ward throwing with receivers down in Miami.
The Titans will kick off their training camp on July 22nd. We will look to have updates there and keep you all in the loop of any other rumblings prior to camp.