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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Vols notebook: Tennessee’s top-rated 2018 recruit still absent

The SEC is the only major conference that does not allow its member institutions to develop their own policies on alcohol sales at athletic venues such as Tennessee's Neyland Stadium.
The SEC is the only major conference that does not allow its member institutions to develop their own policies on alcohol sales at athletic venues such as Tennessee's Neyland Stadium.

KNOXVILLE – With eight of 25 preseason practices for Tennessee’s football team completed, freshman linebacker J.J. Peterson still has not reported.

Peterson, a four-star linebacker out of Colquitt County High School in southern Georgia, was the highest-rated recruit in the Volunteers’ 2018 signing class.

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said at SEC Media Days in July that he “absolutely” expected Peterson to be available when preseason practices started this month.

“He’s got a few things that he’s cleaning up that we’re waiting on to get some information back,” Pruitt said at the time, “and we expect to see him in August.”

On Aug. 2, Pruitt briefed media heading into the start of preseason practice. He acknowledged that “we do have one signee that’s not here yet.”