Will the Vols come out on top?
And then there were two. Following his official visit to Tennessee, it became evident that four-star defensive lineman Dereon Albert held the Vols in high regard. However, Tennessee isn’t alone in the race for his commitment.
Over the weekend, Albert announced that he plans to end his recruitment on July 1, and it’s now a head-to-head battle. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound standout is down to two finalists: North Carolina and Tennessee. It’s shaping up to be a showdown between Bill Belichick and Josh Heupel for the highly coveted prospect.
4-star DL Dereon Albert will decide between Tennessee and North Carolina on July 1
It would certainly be satisfying to give Bill Belichick a proper welcome to college football by beating him out for a top-tier recruit. Don’t forget—five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon recently turned down North Carolina after they expressed interest following Belichick’s hire.
As for Dereon Albert, he’s a legitimate game-changer. He’s taken official visits to both of his finalists, North Carolina and Tennessee. He was also set to visit Mississippi State in Starkville but canceled that trip shortly after returning home from Knoxville earlier this month.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Albert is a four-star talent, the No. 42 defensive lineman in the country, the No. 14 player in Mississippi, and the No. 358 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He’s attracted more than 30 scholarship offers during his recruitment.
Alongside UNC and Tennessee, Albert received offers from programs like Mississippi State, Auburn, Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Nebraska, and Oregon State. With his decision set for next week, all eyes are on where he’ll choose to continue his career. Right now, Tennessee and Josh Heupel appear to be carrying strong momentum—and landing Albert would be a major addition to an already strong 2026 class.
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