Can we put to bed the narrative that Josh Heupel is an average recruiter?

That was one of the knocks on Heupel when Tennessee hired him in 2021. Since then, though, he’s been a steady recruiter – NIL helps – and he’s assembling his best class ever.

The Vols are on a recruiting hot streak. Their 2025 recruiting class is positioned for a top-10 national finish. Also, Heupel continues to be a dynamite recruiter of quarterbacks. Tennessee beat out Alabama and LSU to earn a commitment from five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, the nation’s top-ranked prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams examine the Vols’ recruiting heater and what it means for Heupel’s reputation on the trail.

Also, what will Tennessee’s quarterback depth charts look like in 2025 and ’26? The Vols will be stacked at the position in 2025, when Nico Iamaleava should remain the headliner, but will a transfer or two affect the depth chart in ’26?

If Iamaleava and Brandon are as good as advertised, Tennessee is well-positioned for the future.

Can we put to bed the narrative that <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/other-sports/2024/07/30/tennessee-football-recruiting-david-sanders-north-carolina-class-rank-commitments/74588154007/" aria-label="Link Josh Heupel">Josh Heupel</a> is an average recruiter?
That was one of the knocks on Heupel when Tennessee hired him in 2021. Since then, though, he’s been a steady recruiter – NIL helps – and he’s assembling his best class ever.
The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/07/13/travis-smith-tennessee-football-recruiting-georgia-alabama-auburn-247sports/74378394007/" aria-label="Link Vols are on a recruiting hot streak">Vols are on a recruiting hot streak</a>. Their 2025 recruiting class is positioned for a top-10 national finish. Also, Heupel continues to be a dynamite recruiter of quarterbacks. Tennessee beat out Alabama and LSU to earn a <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/08/03/faizon-brandon-tennessee-football-commit-no-1-quarterback-2026/74379608007/" aria-label="Link commitment from five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon">commitment from five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon</a>, the nation’s top-ranked prospect in the 2026 recruiting class.
On today’s episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> examine the Vols’ recruiting heater and what it means for Heupel’s reputation on the trail.
Also, what will Tennessee’s quarterback depth charts look like in 2025 and ’26? The Vols will be stacked at the position in 2025, when Nico Iamaleava should remain the headliner, but will a transfer or two affect the depth chart in ’26?
If Iamaleava and Brandon are as good as advertised, Tennessee is well-positioned for the future.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

What Josh Heupel's recruiting hot streak means for Tennessee football

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