Tennessee Predicted to Land Coveted Star Over ACC College Football Program
The Tennessee Volunteers appear to be gaining some momentum on the college football recruiting trail. Tennessee is being labeled as “one of the front-runners” to land a top pass rusher in the 2026 recruiting class. On3.com’s Steve Wiltfong reported that the Vols used this past weekend to host several top recruiting targets.
“Tennessee has On3’s No. 6 ranked recruiting class early in the 2026 cycle and Josh Heupel and his staff were doing what they could to build on it this past weekend,” Wiltfong wrote on Wednesday.
“The Vols hosted a few commits and top targets in Knoxville, showing off the College Football Playoff program and why it could be a potential fit for the next wave of prospects.” Tennessee is trending in the right direction for four-star pass rusher Rodney Dunham.
The Charlotte, N.C., prospect is the No. 9 ranked overall player and second rated pass rusher in the 2026 recruiting class, per 247Sports. “It’s obvious Tennessee is one of the front-runners for On3’s No. 3 edge rusher Rodney Dunham,” Wiltfong added. On3 predicts that Tennessee will land Dunham giving the Vols a 34.9% chance to add the pass rusher.
The Duke Blue Devils have the second best odds with a 20.7% chance to sign Dunham. The star defender has a long list of interested teams including the Florida State Seminoles, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers. Related: College Football Power’s Disrespectful Ranking Ahead of 2025 Captures Attention
Britez Risso Collects First SEC Player of the Week Honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee women’s tennis junior Leyla Britez Risso earned SEC Player of the Week honors after playing a crucial role in both victories against Wake Forest and ECU in the Lady Vols’ opening weekend of play. The conference announced on Wednesday that Britez Risso nabbed the first weekly award of the season.
In the 4-3 victory against Wake Forest, Britez Risso and partner Catherine Aulia were up, 6-5, against the No. 44-ranked pair of Nevena Carton and Kady Tannenbaum before the Demon Deacons locked up the doubles point. With Tennessee down, 1-0, Britez Risso claimed the Lady Vols’ first point of the match with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 win against Brianna Baldi.
“Leyla has been working very hard and is really beginning to play every point in a mature, competitive way,” head coach Alison Ojeda remarked. “We are happy for her and also excited to see just how much better she gets as she continues to work this spring.”
In the 4-0 sweep against East Carolina, Britez Risso and Aulia shut out ECU’s Isabella Rivera and Lilly Lancaster, 6-0. The Asuncion, Paraguay, native followed it up with a straight-set victory against Anne Lou Champion in 6-1, 6-1 fashion.
Britez Risso was the only Lady Vol to post two singles wins and a doubles victory during the opening weekend. The junior has yet to drop a doubles match in the dual season and possesses a perfect 7-0 career record. In singles, Britez Risso owns a 12-2 career mark.
This marks the first time in Britez Risso’s three-year career she has earned a weekly conference honor.
