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Josh Heupel's Tennessee offers scholarship to four-star safety to the Class of 2026
No. 7 Tennessee is waiting for its upcoming College Football Playoff first-round game against No. 6 Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 21. Josh Heupel's Volunteers coaching staff is also keeping an eye on potential prospects and sending offers to them. One of the latest players to receive a scholarship from the school is four-star safety KJ McClain.
On Thursday, the 2026 class prospect shared the news on X, tagging Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
"Blessed to receive and offer from University of Tennessee 🍊 @CoachTimBanks @Vol_Football," McClain tweeted.
The St. Joseph Regional High School (New Jersey) standout has been turning heads with his versatile athleticism. Rivals ranks McClain as a four-star recruit and the No. 34 safety in the 2026 class. He is the No. 7 overall prospect in New Jersey and No. 369 nationally. Other outlets rate him as a three-star player, but McClain’s rising profile suggests he is a name to watch closely.
At just 6 or 7 years old, McClain discovered his love for sports. Now, he excels on both sides of the ball by suiting up as a free safety and wide receiver, showcasing strong tackling ability and elite play recognition.
KJ McClain has yet to release a list of top schools, but he told Rivals' Adam Gorney in August that four programs were pursuing him the hardest: Penn State, Rutgers, Boston College and Syracuse.
Among these, Penn State stands out as the clear leader for now, with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine giving the Nittany Lions an 82.4% chance to secure his commitment. Rutgers and Syracuse trail, with 2.3% and 1.7% chances, respectively.
However, Tennessee’s offer could shake up the competition. The Volunteers join a growing list of schools vying for McClain, including Duke, West Virginia, Temple, Maryland, Central Michigan, Marshall, James Madison, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, UMass, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Connecticut and Toledo.
Tennessee 2026 class recruiting update
Tennessee has the No. 1 recruiting class in the Southeastern Conference in the 2026 cycle. It also ranks No. 3 in the nation with six committed players. The cycle's latest commitment came from three-star linebacker Braylon Outlaw on Nov. 7.
The Vols' 2026 class is headlined by five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, who is the nation's No. 1 signal-caller in the cycle and also the top prospect in North Carolina, according to 247Sports. The class also features four-star wide receiver Tyreek King, four-star interior offensive lineman Brandon Anderson, four-star tight end Carson Sneed and three-star defensive lineman Tyson Bacon.
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