Tennessee HC Josh Heupel and former Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh are heading toward a big off-the-field battle
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Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel and Auburn Tigers head coach Alex Golesh are heading toward a big off-the-field battle.
Golesh, who served as Heupel's offensive coordinator at Tennessee from 2021 to 2022, was hired as Auburn's head coach shortly after the 2025 regular season wrapped up.
Unsurprisingly, Heupel and Golesh, who run similar offenses, are already interested in the same 2027 quarterback recruit.
Josh Heupel and Alex Golesh are poised to go head to head for an elite quarterback recruit
On3's Steve Wiltfong suggested on Friday that Tennessee is "setting the tone" in 2027 four-star quarterback Israel Abrams' recruitment.
"I get the sense Tennessee is setting the tone in the recruitment of the Rivals Industry’s No. 3 quarterback Israel Abrams," noted Wiltfong. "Of his contenders, it’s the program he’s visited the most and it’s a style of play he believes he can be prolific in."
It sounds like Tennessee is in a good spot for Abrams, but Auburn is making a charge.
Abrams recently visited Auburn, and he told Rivals.com's Greg Smith that the Tigers will receive an official visit.
"Abrams has also told me for Rivals that Auburn will 'for sure' be getting a summer official visit from him," wrote Smith. "The history of big-time offense under Golesh and family atmosphere being created at Auburn are big drivers here. The Tigers have real momentum in this recruitment now."
There's a lot of respect between Heupel and Golesh, so I wouldn't expect any shenanigans in this recruiting battle. But it'll be interesting to see how this battle plays out.
The feeling is that Tennessee should have the advantage given Heupel's head start as a head coach in the SEC. Golesh, however, is an adept recruiter that certainly shouldn't be slept on in the battle for Abrams.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Jan 23, 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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