Josh Heupel believes LB signee Brayden Rouse is 'going to develop into a really special player'

Tennessee announced the entirety of its 2026 signing class throughout the day on Wednesday, including four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse. The Kell High School standout linebacker was a long-time target of the Vols, and was a critical piece of the class.

Tennessee identified Rouse early in the process, which allowed them to offer before other SEC schools and cultivate relationships, which paid off in the end. Josh Heupel discussed Rouse during his Wednesday press conference.

“A long athlete that is continuing to physically develop,” Heupel said of what they identified in Rouse. “We recognized all the traits really are on in the process. Unbelievable family. Dad is coaching. And his football IQ has continued to grow. Really unique skill set. You look at him playing on the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver, tight end. Physically he has continued to develop. He’s played on all three levels of the defense as well.”

The ceiling for Rouse is high, and the Tennessee Head Coach believes the four-star linebacker can develop into a big-time player for the Vols.

“And every time that we’re talking to him on a given game week, he’s moving somewhere else,” Heupel added of Rouse’s skillset. “And the structure of it, he’s got great athleticism, change of direction. I think his body’s going to explode when he gets to college and is focused on one sport and in the weight room every single day. Just a high character, highly athletic individual that’s, I think, going to develop into a really special player.”

The Scout on Brayden Rouse

“I think you look at the obvious blend of size and athleticism for a second-level defender, he has all of those traits you covet at the linebacker position,”  Steve Wiltfong, Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal for On3 told Volquest at the time of Rouse’s commitment. “He is big, physical and can play sideline-to-sideline. When the football is in his vicinity, he has the ability to turn into an offensive-type player—maybe pick it off and take it the other way. The other thing about him is he is just a pure football player, coach’s kid, and plays hard and plays right. He brings the leadership traits to a football team that is trying to compete at a high level. If he is instinctual at the next level, he is going to be a great player just because of the athleticism he has and the size he has. I think his ceiling is high. He will continue to develop from a strength and speed standpoint, and he will continue to develop at the position playing it this fall.”

“Brayden Rouse is a well-rounded linebacker prospect. He is a fantastic two-way player on Friday nights. You can see his instincts in space and his ability to cover and make plays on the ball. He is a guy who is a nimble athlete and a mover that can run sideline-to-sideline. Really like the play speed and his ability to track down ball carriers in pursuit. He is just kind of a playmaking, instinctual player. You see that with his ball skills and his ability to make plays as a tight end. One of the top linebacker prospects in the country. View him as a top-ten linebacker nationally, and a top linebacker prospect in the Southeast. We don’t think there is a huge gap between him and some of the top linebackers in the country, so I am looking forward to watching him as a senior. He is a huge get for Tennessee. A guy that was coveted by big time programs, so for Tennessee to go into Georgia and get him, I think that was a big time recruiting win.” –On3 Director of Scouting and Recruiting Charles Power.