National outlet calls Tennessee one of 8 'winners' on national signing day, and it's because Vols pulled off a very rare program feat
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National signing day came and went on Wednesday, although hardly anyone noticed. The 2026 recruiting classes for all schools are now complete, even though the vast, vast majority of recruits for most schools put pen to paper back on early signing day in December.
Now, with everyone's classes completed, some national outlets have provided their assessments in earnest of the schools who made out the best in recruiting for 2026.
That includes CBS Sports, whose Grant Hughes put out a list of winners from 2026's recruiting race. He included Tennessee among eight winners, namely for their rare collection of five-star recruits in Faizon Brandon, Tristen Keys, and Gabriel Osunda (per 247 Sports), which Hughes notes is as many 247 Sports five stars as they landed in the previous six years combined.
CBS Sports lists Tennessee among 'winners' for 2026 recruiting class based on number of 5 stars
This is what Hughes had to say about the Vols:
"It's a historic 2026 haul for Tennessee, which signed as many five-star recruits this offseason as it did across the previous six classes combined.
"The Vols' three five-star commits mark the first time the program has landed multiple five-stars in a single class in more than a decade.
"Brandon is the second-highest-rated quarterback to commit to Tennessee in the modern recruiting era (since 2000) and headlines just the Vols' second top-10 class of the past decade."
I always find it interesting to see the discrepancies and differences between the recruiting outlets when it comes to certain players. Brandon was a top 15 recruit for both Rivals and ESPN, but somehow was ranked 40th and a four-star player by Rivals. Keys was the No. 1 and 2 receiver nationally for ESPN and 247, respectively, but was ranked seventh for Rivals. Osenda was a five star, No. 28 overall prospect, and the fifth offensive tackle prospect for 247 Sports, but was 176 (ESPN) and 183 (Rivals) elsewhere.
Regardless, they're all players that just about every program in the country would welcome into their class with open arms and are potential immediate impact players for Tennessee, along with others in the class.
Tennessee has the resources to be a constant player in the transfer portal, and they will continue to be, but you have to build a base through recruiting as well. The Vols are doing a nice job of that, and that should pay off dividends in the next few seasons for Josh Heupel.
This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Feb 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Nashville section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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