Josh Heupel shares how he celebrated Alabama win

Amid the postgame celebrations in Knoxville following Tennessee‘s stunning 52-49 victory over Alabama, Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s first move after media and initial festivities was to focus on recruiting.

Heupel had a cigar or two of course, courtesy of Outsider, and wanted to ensure the future of his program is in the right hands personnel-wise for years to come following the biggest win in Rocky Top in decades.

“[It was] a long celebration in the locker room, as there should be after a win like that,” Heupel said of Saturday’s victory festivities. “Just the way that it unfolded, the game anyway, that’s a celebration that we want to have more of. We have more opportunity on the back end of that to do a bunch of recruiting. There were a great amount of guys here and that’s important for the future of our program.”

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In terms of the 2023 class, consensus five-star edge rusher Samuel M’Pemba was in attendance on his official visit. Four-star EDGE Tomarrion Parker, three-star offensive lineman Vysen Lang and former Texas A&M offensive lineman who currently plays in the JUCO ranks Derick Hunter were all on the sideline for the game as well.

Jadyn Davis, one of the top quarterback recruits in the 2024 class, was in attendance as well. Four-stars Jerrick Gibson (RB), Mike Matthews (ATH), among several top class of 2025 targets were there, too.

Once that was over, Heupel went home and the party continued.

“Once I got out of [Neyland Stadium] and went home probably close to midnight, got a chance to spend a bunch of time with my family,” he said. “Had a bunch of friends there for the game, too, and then eventually got to bed at some point.”

With the college football world’s focus directed toward Knoxville over the next couple of weeks, the Vols are set to battle UT Martin this weekend before taking on No. 19. Kentucky at home and No. 1 Georgia on the road.