Don’t get it wrong, Josh Heupel never gives up. The ESPN-dubbed No. 2 active head coach in college football has built his Tennessee brand on being aggressive, calculated, and relentless in pursuit. But even the most determined coaches face a wall they can’t scale. Especially when it comes to recruiting a versatile in-state athlete whose biggest battle isn’t over which school to pick, but which position to play. And for Tennessee Volunteers’ staff, that dilemma has quietly shifted the tone of one of their highest-profile pursuits in the 2026 class.
So, Bell Buckle born Joel Wyatt, and his indecision about where he fits best on the field has turned this recruitment into a southern chess match. Wyatt with long, gangly movement hovering around 6-foot-4 operates with relative ease and athleticism on both sides of the ball. Heupel initially chased him with a clear vision. Be the next James Pearce. An edge nightmare with length and burst. But according to Rivals, “Tennessee has been in hot pursuit of in-state star Joel Wyatt, trying to sell the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder on the idea of being the next James Pearce, an outside linebacker/edge rusher. But Wyatt has been cold to that idea, and it’s why the Vols haven’t landed him yet.” The Vols didn’t back off the gas but have quietly pivoted.
“Tennessee has now told Wyatt he can play safety there, with a decision expected ‘very soon.’” That’s a major shift for a staff known for dictating fit, not conceding it. The move says more about Wyatt’s profile than Vols’ desperation. Rated by 247Sports as the No. 3 overall player in Tennessee and No. 47 nationally for the 2026 class, Wyatt is a rare breed. His fluid hips, long stride, and ball-tracking ability scream center fielder. But his frame and downhill pop suggest he could be a Sunday-level pass rusher in a few years. That’s created an identity crisis of sorts. One school sees a nickel safety. Another sees a future WR1. Wyatt, for now, sees himself as both. And that’s where things get complicated.
The list of suitors has ballooned as his tape keeps circulating. Vanderbilt has made the loudest push outside of Knoxville. That alone raises eyebrows. Clark Lea’s staff is recruiting Wyatt as a safety and wideout, which aligns neatly with what the player wants. That dual-option pitch is why the Commodores are not just in the race, they might be getting ahead.
Oklahoma, Louisville, and North Carolina are also lurking. Banking on the hope that positional freedom matters more than geography or brand. Georgia, ever the silent shark in these waters, has shown interest too. Seeing him as a chess piece on defense who could grow into a hybrid role. But none of those schools have outbid Tennessee.
According to On3’s Keegan Pope, “The Vols have long been the highest bidder in this process.” That’s not a phrase used lightly in today’s NIL climate. And when combined with their new willingness to let Wyatt choose safety over edge, it reveals how much value Tennessee places on keeping in-state blue-chippers home. There’s urgency here. Both financial and philosophical. Because if Wyatt slips away, it’s not just a recruiting miss. It’s a referendum on fit vs. flexibility in the NIL era.
As anyone who follows recruiting closely knows, money and messaging don’t always guarantee a signature. This recruitment has become a test case in 2026. what matters more, positional autonomy or institutional fit? The Vols have done their part.
An ACC coach tipped his cap to Josh Heupel ahead of week one clash
Just as Tennessee battles it out on the recruiting trail for in-state stars, there’s another orange showdown brewing. Syracuse head coach Fran Brown isn’t just gearing up for his debut season. He’s kicking things off with a bang against Josh Heupel and the Vols in week one. And he’s not shy about what that matchup means.
“I think Coach Heupel is probably in the top-5 best coaches in college football right now,” Brown told reporters this week in the ACC Media Days. “His offense has done an amazing job. He got the defense rolling.” That’s high praise coming from a first-year Power Five head coach facing a top-15 program in his very first game.
But Brown’s got eyes wide open. He knows what Heupel’s offense can do when it’s humming, and he’s clearly done his homework. Tennessee’s high-octane, tempo-heavy system is no secret. Brown is just hoping to hold on in week one, and maybe steal a little thunder in the process.
The post Josh Heupel Finally Gives Up as 4-Star Target’s Position Uncertainty Sparks SEC, ACC Tug-of-War appeared first on EssentiallySports.
