Gabriel Osenda, an in-state offensive tackle, committed to play for the Volunteers in 2026, giving Tennessee a significant boost to its offensive line.
Osenda attends Chattanooga’s Baylor School and will be moving to Knoxville in a few more seasons to play for Tennessee and Josh Heupel. Osenda also intended to make his announcement at Saturday’s Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio in order to create a dramatic effect. Osenda chose Tennessee over Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Florida, a competitor in the SEC.
Regarding his choice to remain in the state of Tennessee, Osenda told Sports Illustrated, “After all the visits it just started to feel like home and the place I need to be at.”
Osenda went on to say that Heupel and Glen Elarbee, the offensive line coach for the Volunteers, played a significant role in his choice. During the previous season, Osenda visited Knoxville twice on game days, attending the Volunteers’ games against Kentucky and Florida.
The 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle is a 3-star recruit in the 247 Composite, which is created by the industry. He is rated as the 32nd best lineman in the class and the 10th best recruit from the state of Tennessee. According to the national player rankings, he is ranked No. 380 overall.
He joins Tennessee’s 2026 class as the ninth known recruit.
Nightingale, Cory
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