As of now, Josh Heupel’s Vols boasts 8 commitments in its No. 5 national recruiting class for 2026. But to elevate their dynasty to another level, the Vols are aiming to land a 4-star Peach State recruit. According to 247Sports’, the 6-foot-4, 228 lb prospect is the No. 26 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 38 player in Georgia. But not only Vols, Georgia Tech, Bama, and Clemson are also in the running for him. However, Josh Heupel seems to have the upper hand with his recruiting pitch, as the player himself stated, “Tennessee is definitely high on my list.” But there’s also a 7-6 Big Ten program making a strong push for this rising star.

As per the recent X post by standout edge rusher Dre Quinn, the program making waves is none other than Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans. After making an unofficial visit, Quinn had a notably positive response. His X post read, “Really appreciate the School Visit from @uscfb! #FightOn ✌️ @LincolnRiley @Coach_Henny @dantonlynn @flowlikerob.” Among all the coaches involved, the one drawing significant attention in Quinn’s recruitment saga is USC’s new linebackers coach, Rob Ryan.

Perhaps it is because of his prior expertise or the fact that he is a new member, starting on January 25. Ryan has been an NFL and college coach for more than 30 years; he took over replacing Matt Entz, who departed USC during the offseason to take a position as Fresno State’s head coach. Ryan’s position at USC will be his first in collegiate football since 1999 when he was finishing off a three-year term as DC at Oklahoma State. He has served as a DC for eight different teams before then.

During that period, he was the DC for the Raiders, Cowboys, Browns, Saints, and Bills. Not sure if this new LB coach will be able to sign this 4-star EDGE at the end of his high school career, but this ground will bear fruit. See his numbers. Dre Quinn has been a dominant force on the field, recording a total of 120 tackles, including an impressive 31.5 tackles for loss, and showcasing his pass-rushing ability with 15 sacks. Despite Riley’s team’s best efforts to get Quinn, Josh Heupel’s Vol’s presence cannot be denied.

How was the trip to Josh Heupel’s Tennessee?

The edge rusher from Greater Atlanta Christian School visited last week to Tennessee. And the 4-star EDGE Quinn revealed to On3 that the Vols are now “high” on his list of teams to follow. Moreover, the star athlete said, “My connection with the coaches was awesome. It felt like I’ve known them for years.” It seems the “vibes felt genuine” during Dre Quinn’s visit to Vols, with coaches and staff being described as “down to earth.”

However, it’s not just the coaching staff that has the Vols at the top of his list. The success of recent edge rushers like Byron Young and James Pearce, who have proven themselves and are heading to the NFL, has made Tennessee an even more attractive destination for players like Quinn. With that in mind, the race to land this 2026 EDGE recruit is heating up; now, let’s see how much the battle intensifies between Lincoln Riley and Josh Heupel for Quinn’s commitment.