Vols Face Major Setback as Star Offensive Lineman Decommits—What’s Next?
Tennessee’s football program faced a significant setback on Monday when one of its highly sought-after recruits, offensive lineman Brandon Anderson, de-committed from the Vols. Anderson, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound powerhouse from the 2026 recruiting class, had been one of the 26 prospects with scholarship offers from top-tier programs across the country.
His departure marks a blow to Tennessee’s recruiting efforts, although there are still signs of optimism for the Vols moving forward.
Anderson, ranked as a top-100 prospect by On3, had previously committed to Tennessee but is now exploring other options, including offers from powerhouse programs such as Auburn, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, Miami, Georgia, and Georgia Tech.
Despite his de-commitment, the Vols’ coaching staff, led by head coach Josh Heupel, still has time to re-enter the competition for Anderson, as he is expected to visit several of these schools officially in the coming months.
Tennessee’s recruiting weekend did feature some positive developments. Over the weekend, the Volunteers hosted a number of high-profile recruits, including four-star wide receiver Joel Wyatt from the 2026 class.
Wyatt, who expressed enthusiasm about his visit to Knoxville, highlighted the welcoming atmosphere and strong culture he experienced during his time with the coaching staff. “They’re up there,” Wyatt commented in an interview with On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “It was a great time up in Knoxville. Just seeing all the coaches coming up to me and my family. I took a lot away today, and the culture they have is great.”
This positive feedback is a hopeful sign for Tennessee as it seeks to bolster its recruiting efforts amid some of the recent challenges.
Despite Anderson’s de-commitment, Tennessee’s recruiting class is not in a crisis. The Vols still have seven commitments for the 2026 cycle, with the standout recruit being five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, who is considered the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the nation.
While Anderson’s de-commitment drops Tennessee down a notch in the class rankings, Heupel and his staff remain optimistic about the future, knowing there is still ample time to recover and secure some of the nation’s top talent.
As Anderson weighs his options, the intense competition for his commitment underscores the level of interest he is drawing.
With major programs vying for his services, Tennessee will need to continue working diligently to regain Anderson’s commitment. It will be a challenging task, but the Vols’ coaching staff is undoubtedly up for the challenge, and the door remains open for Anderson’s return to the fold, depending on how his recruitment progresses.
