Tennessee lands commitments from pair of high school teammates, 4-star recruits
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Tennessee just added a big-time duo to its 2026 recruiting class.
The Vols have earned a commitment from 4-star linebacker TJ White and 4-star defensive lineman Dereon Albert, who who are high school teammates at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Mississippi.
They each shared the news of their commitments on Tuesday afternoon with On3’s Hayes Fawcett:
White chose Tennessee over programs such as Auburn, Ohio State, Florida State and Mississippi State, amongst others. He’s the No. 113 overall player and the No. 7 linebacker in the country for the class of 2026, per 247Sports Composite rankings. He’s also the No. 7 player from the state of Mississippi.
White took an official visit to Tennessee earlier this month prior to making this decision. He also made trips to Florida State, Mississippi State and Auburn in recent weeks.
Albert is also a significant addition for the Vols. He’s the No. 359 overall player and the No. 42 defensive lineman in the nation, per 247Sports Composite rankings. He had offers from SEC foes Mississippi State, Arkansas and Kentucky, amongst others.
Tennessee is now up to 15 high school commits in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The group, led by 5-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, ranks No. 13 nationally per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
