As the 2026 college football season looms, the SEC’s preseason accolades are already shaping expectations, and Tennessee has emerged as a standout with eleven athletes earning spots on Athlon Sports’ Preseason All‑SEC squads.
Wendell Moe Jr. Leads the Volunteers
Among them, offensive guard Wendell Moe Jr. stands out as the only Volunteer to make the first team, a testament to his steady rise after arriving from Arizona, where he honed his craft before joining the Volunteers for a redshirt‑senior campaign that also earned him a Walter Camp Preseason All‑America second‑team nod.
The rest of the recognition reflects a breadth of talent across the roster: DeSean Bishop, who surged to a 1,000‑yard season, joins Bishop on the second team, while freshman phenom Braylon Staley, the SEC’s Freshman of the Year, also finds a place on the second unit; David Sanders Jr. is set to flip back to left tackle after a promising freshman stint on the right side.
Defensively, returning cornerback Ty Redmond and Penn State transfer linebacker Amare Campbell earn second‑team honors, and the third‑team list includes linebacker Arion Carter, a proven returning starter, while the fourth team showcases offensive linemen Mike Matthews, Ethan Davis and Jesse Perry alongside defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, another Penn State transfer.
A Roster Built for Depth
The breadth of honorees underscores a depth chart that blends home‑grown prospects with high‑impact transfers, a mix that could give Tennessee a competitive edge in the SEC’s toughest matchups.