National recruiting analyst says there's 'not a lot of optimism' that Tennessee Vols will land 2026 5-star recruiting target

The Tennessee Vols are one of several teams still in the mix for 2026 five-star offensive lineman Darius Gray.

But unfortunately for the Vols, it sounds like this recruiting battle is trending away from Tennessee.

247Sports' Tom Loy noted on Tuesday that South Carolina and LSU appear to be the two frontrunners for Gray, who is set to announce his commitment on August 22.

"South Carolina and LSU are the two I'm watching the most in his top five," said Loy. "There's not a lot of optimism coming from Tennessee, Ohio State and Clemson."

Loy also pointed out that he believes LSU has a "slight edge" in this recruiting battle.

Gray, 6-foot-3/285 lbs from Richmond, VA, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Virginia. He's also rated as the No. 16 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class.

The Virginia native took an official visit to Tennessee in early June, which reportedly went well.

Things can change in an instant when it comes to recruiting, so the Vols can't be ruled out for Gray. But it seems it would be a bit of surprise if a program other than LSU or South Carolina lands the talented five-star recruit.