Tennessee Vols become a target for one of the top prospects in the 2026 class without Josh Heupel lifting a finger

The Tennessee Vols are looking for an impact wide receiver for his 2026 recruiting class.  As it turns out, one just fell in Josh Heupel’s lap that he’s had his eye on for further down the road.

According to On3 Sports, DeSoto, TX wide receiver Ethan Feaster is re-classifying from the 2027 class to the 2026 one, and Tennessee is among the 12 schools still in play for his services.

Feaster was ranked as the #4 overall player and #1 receiver in the 2027 class, so he’s someone that Heupel has had a close eye on.  With his reclassification, the future is now for him and the Vols.  Feaster has been listed as the #73 player and #9 wide receiver for the 2026 class.

Despite being listed as one of the 12 teams still alive for his services, Heupel and wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope still have some work to do to for the Vols to become a serious contender.  That will involve securing an official visit in June.  According to On3 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Feaster has a visit set with USC in June and will visit Texas A&M, LSU, and SMU.

Feaster is one of the most intriguing wide receiver prospects in the country. As a sophomore last fall, he caught 57 passes for 824 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Through two high school seasons, he’s totaled 22 receiving scores.

We’ll see if Heupel and his staff can make inroads in the coming months to try to bring one of the jewels of the Lone Star State to the Volunteer State by the end of the year.