6 freshmen with the best chance to impact Tennessee football, including TK Keys

Tennessee football has signed a highly-ranked recruiting class under coach Josh Heupel, with 33 freshmen set to arrive in 2026. Several of these freshmen are expected to make significant impacts during the season. Among them, quarterback Faizon Brandon is the standout player. The 14th true freshman to start at quarterback for the Vols, Brandon was named the starting quarterback on August 24.

He is a five-star recruit from Greensboro, North Carolina, who outranked George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub for the starting spot. Heupel praised Brandon's command of the offense, fundamentals, and decision-making, which contributed to his ascent. Wide receiver TK Keys, ranked No. 1 at his position by the 247Sports Composite, is also a strong contender.

The 6-2, 200-pounder from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has a solid chance to step into the third starting spot alongside Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley. The competition between Keys, Radarious Jackson, and Travis Smith will be fierce, but Keys' talent cannot go unnoticed. Defensive tackle JJ Finch could also play a role on the defensive line.

Finch, a consensus three-star recruit from Warren Central in Indianapolis, recorded 86 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in his senior year. With the loss of depth from last season's roster, Finch's experience and skills could be beneficial. Edge rusher Kedric Golston II is another freshman who could contribute to the team.

With the departure of Joshua Josephs to the NFL, Golston, a 6-3, 243-pounder with a strong pedigree, could make an impact. Additionally, freshmen linebackers TJ White and Brayden Rouse, ranked No. 4 and No. 5 linebackers in the 247Sports Composite, respectively, should see significant playing time. While there are limited roles available for them in the linebacker rotation, both players are expected to contribute on special teams as they gain experience.