Neyland Stadium is quiet right now, but the fax machines and transfer portals are screaming. If you’ve been following the Tennessee Vols depth chart over the last few weeks, you know it’s been a whirlwind. Honestly, it's exhausting. We just watched a rollercoaster 8-5 season wrap up with a tough loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl, and suddenly, half the roster looks different.
People are panicked. They see names like Boo Carter and Rickey Gibson III hitting the portal and assume the sky is falling in Knoxville. But if you look closer, Josh Heupel isn't just scrambling; he’s essentially rebuilding the engine while the car is still moving. The 2026 season is going to hinge on a massive influx of young talent and some very specific portal surgery.
The Quarterback Room: Life After Nico
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Nico Iamaleava is gone. He’s at UCLA now, putting up stats in a different shade of blue, and that leaves a massive void in Knoxville. Most fans expected a veteran transfer to walk through that door, but after missing out on Sam Leavitt, the plan has shifted.
Basically, we’re looking at a youth movement that’s going to be both exciting and terrifying. George MacIntyre is the name everyone is circling. He’s the homegrown five-star talent, and he’s currently sitting at the top of the projected Tennessee Vols depth chart for 2026. But don't sleep on Faizon Brandon. He’s a true freshman, sure, but he’s already signed and enrolled. There are even whispers that Heupel might still snag a "bridge" veteran like Taron Dickens or EJ Colson from the portal just to keep the seat warm, but honestly, the staff seems content to let the kids play.
Shuffling the Deck on the Offensive Line
The line is a bit of a mess, to be blunt. Losing Lance Heard and Bennett Warren to the portal stung. It wasn't just a loss of talent; it was a loss of massive, SEC-ready frames.
Here is how the front five is shaping up right now:
- Left Tackle: Jesse Perry (Redshirt Freshman)
- Left Guard: Shamurad Umarov (Redshirt Sophomore)
- Center: Sam Pendleton (Redshirt Sophomore/Transfer)
- Right Guard: Wendell Moe Jr. (Redshirt Junior/Transfer)
- Right Tackle: David Sanders Jr. (True Freshman)
Seeing a true freshman like David Sanders Jr. at right tackle is enough to give any Vol fan heart palpitations. He’s arguably the best tackle recruit in the country, but the SEC is a different beast. To help out, Heupel poached Ory Williams from LSU. Williams is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-8, and he’ll likely provide the veteran depth needed to keep MacIntyre upright.
The Defensive Rebuild: Jim Knowles' New Toys
The defense struggled in 2025. There's no way to sugarcoat it. But the 2026 Tennessee Vols depth chart on the defensive side looks significantly more athletic.
Qua Moss, a safety transfer from Kansas State, was the first big domino to fall this January. He’s a "true senior" who has played at four different schools. He brings a level of "grown man" football that the secondary desperately needed after Boo Carter’s departure. Joining him is Kayin Lee from Auburn, a cornerback who should slide into a starting role immediately.
The defensive line actually looks like a strength. Daevin Hobbs and Tyree Weathersby are back, and they’ve added Xavier Gilliam from Penn State. This group has to be the anchor. If they can’t get pressure, the young secondary—featuring guys like freshman Timothy Merritt and Sidney Walton—is going to get shredded by the high-flying offenses in the SEC.
Surprising Losses and New Faces
It’s weird seeing Max Gilbert leave for Arkansas. He was the guy who missed that 43-yarder against Georgia, and it felt like both he and the fanbase needed a fresh start. In his place comes Cooper Ranvier from Louisville. Kicking in Neyland is a different kind of pressure, so we'll see if he's got the nerves for it.
The wide receiver room is also undergoing a facelift. With Chris Brazzell II likely heading to the NFL, the "X" and "Z" spots are wide open. Mike Matthews is the guy everyone expects to explode this year. He’s a sophomore now, and his chemistry with George MacIntyre during spring ball will be the most watched storyline in Knoxville. Behind him, Tristen Keys and Tyreek King provide a lot of speed, but they lack experience.
What This Means for 2026
Honestly, the 2026 season feels like a "bridge" year that could either result in a playoff run or a frustrating 7-win season. The talent is there—the 2026 recruiting class is ranked near the top of the country—but it is incredibly young.
Most people get wrong that the portal is just for replacing starters. For Heupel, it's been about replacing the middle of the roster. The "depth" in the Tennessee Vols depth chart is currently being built through 10+ transfer portal additions like Chaz Coleman and Dejuan Lane (both from Penn State). They are bringing in players who have been in high-level programs even if they weren't stars there.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to keep a real pulse on how this roster is actually going to perform, stop looking at the star ratings and start looking at the spring injury report.
👉 See also: Patriots vs Giants: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different in 2026
- Monitor the Center Battle: With William Satterwhite leaving for the portal, Sam Pendleton is the man at center. If he goes down, the entire offensive timing breaks.
- Watch the "LEO" Position: Christian Gass and Mike Bethea II are the projected leaders at the hybrid LEO spot. They need to replace the production of James Pearce Jr. (who led all NFL rookies in sacks recently—VFLs represent).
- Spring Game Focus: When the Orange and White game rolls around, ignore the score. Watch the offensive line's communication. If David Sanders Jr. is getting beat by speed rushes, the Vols are in for a long September.
The 2026 Tennessee Vols depth chart isn't finalized yet, and with the spring portal window still to come, expect more movement. But for now, the blueprint is clear: lean on the blue-chip freshmen and hope the portal veterans can provide the leadership that was missing last year.