The Tennessee Volunteers made one of the biggest splashes of early national signing day, securing the No. 7 recruiting class for 2026 — their highest-ranked class since 2015 and the first top-10 class under head coach Josh Heupel.
Not only did Tennessee retain all of its original recruits outside of Salesi Moa (committed to Utah), but it also flipped three additional commits:
Legend Bey, 4-Star ATH
Legend Bey is a four-star athlete who initially committed to Tennessee in June before flipping to Ohio State in November. On Wednesday, Bey announced he would sign with the Volunteers.
Although he signed with Tennessee, reports suggest potential controversy. Allegedly, Bey’s family could have been the ones who pushed him to choose Tennessee. On Thursday, there was a now-deleted tweet from Bey’s X account that implied that his brother and mother have access to his social media, and mentioned that they wanted him to sign with a school that he didn’t want to attend:
Although there hasn’t been an official statement, allegedly, Bey wanted to go to Ohio State, but since he is still 17, he can’t sign his letter of intent without a guardian’s signature. Reports suggest that Bey could request a release of his commitment once he turns 18 in a few weeks.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect is rated as the No. 7 athlete in the country and the No. 21 player from Texas. At North Forney High School, he served as the school’s starting quarterback, passing for 1,608 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. In addition, he ran for 1,780 yards and 30 touchdowns while averaging nearly 13 yards per carry.
Although he played quarterback in high school, many believe that he will be an exceptional wide receiver at the next level. As a junior, he ran a blazing 100-meter time of 10.23 for his track team at the Texas 6A regional qualifier.
His speed and elusiveness are world-class, and he could very well serve as a punt or kick returner at Tennessee if he decides to stay. His athleticism makes him a dangerous player at any position he plays, and he is also an underrated passer who could be effective on trick plays. If the Vols retain Bey, then they have a future star player in their hands.
Carter Gooden, 4-Star Edge
Carter Gooden is a four-star edge rusher from Massachusetts who committed to UCLA in July. On Wednesday, Gooden announced he was flipping to Tennessee. In an interview with Volquest, Gooden said he believed the Volunteers’ coaching staff could help him become the best player he is capable of being and noted that he wanted to be in a program that won many games and had a chance to compete for a national championship.
In the same interview, Gooden noted that Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner played a pivotal role in his decision to choose the Vols over schools like UCLA and Vanderbilt.
“His biggest sales pitch was that he sees that I have the measurables and the speed,” Gooden said about Garner. “That I have everything. I just need someone to refine my skills and make me into a better football player. He was saying how he can do that and how he has done that with players in the past. He gets them to the most success possible, and I believe he can do that for me.”
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman is the No. 13 edge and No. 1 player from Massachusetts via 247Sports. During his senior season, he registered a staggering 40 tackles for a loss, including 14 sacks, six forced fumbles, four blocked kicks, and two safeties. His on-the-field performance earned him the 2025 New England Lineman of the Year award.
Gooden is a multi-sport athlete who was originally from Canada. He also played basketball, hockey, and lacrosse. He received 19 FBS offers from schools such as Penn State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and North Carolina.
JJ Finch, 3-Star DL
Initially committed to Alabama, JJ Finch flipped to Tennessee on Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive lineman from Indianapolis is rated as the No. 11 player from Indiana and the No. 89 defensive lineman in the class of 2026 via 247Sports. At Warren Central High School, he played defensive end, defensive tackle, and tight end, leading the team to the Class 6A state semifinals in 2025.
As a senior in 2025, Finch accumulated 86 tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks, including two pass breakups and a forced fumble, earning him the 2025 Marion County Player of the Year. His dominant senior campaign granted him an invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
He chose the Volunteers over 27 other FBS schools and received offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, and Michigan, among others.
