Josh Heupel’s 2026 recruiting class for Tennessee football just hit a nerve. Five-star offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, freshly elevated to elite status in 247Sports’ updated rankings, claims he’s “fully locked in” with the Vols—but dropped a jaw-dropping caveat: Georgia remains the lone threat to flip his commitment.
The 6’7″, 330-pound phenom, now ranked as the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall prospect nationally, told Rivals that while he’s halting all further visits, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs could still “turn my head.” The admission sent shockwaves through Tennessee’s fanbase, already wary of rivals poaching their top talent.
Osenda’s rise to five-star status has only intensified the spotlight. His initial pledge to Tennessee in April solidified the Vols’ 2026 class, but Georgia’s relentless pursuit has thrown uncertainty into the mix. The Bulldogs, fresh off losing five-star OT Jackson Cantwell to Miami, are now doubling down on Osenda. For Smart, landing the mountainous tackle would salvage a key recruiting miss and bolster Georgia’s future line.
Vols supporters had breathed easier when Osenda shut down his visit schedule, but his latest comments reignite fears of a last-minute flip. Tennessee’s hopes hinge on pairing Osenda with star quarterback commit Faizon Brandon, a duo poised to dominate the SEC. Yet Georgia’s shadow looms large, turning this into a high-stakes chess match between Heupel and Smart.
For now, Osenda remains a Vol. But in college football’s cutthroat recruiting world, “locked in” rarely means locked down. Tennessee’s grip on its prized lineman just got a lot more precarious.
