2026 DL Preston Carey Adds Tennessee Visit To Busy Schedule

Yes, you read that correctly. 2026 defensive lineman Preston Carey received an offer from the Tennessee Volunteers and will see Knoxville this weekend.

Tennessee has never shied away from recruiting young prospects. It's one of the things that sets them apart on the recruiting trail. By the time these players are high school seniors, they have had years of opportunity to build relationships with Tennessee's coaching staff and see the campus. A new name has emerged, and though he's young, he's also extremely talented.

Defensive lineman Preston Carey was born in 2007. The rising sophomore at St. Anthony’s High School in East Northport, New York, is already taking a look at colleges, including the University of Tennessee. Carey is in the class of 2026 but is already ranked among the nation’s best, especially at the defensive line position. He stands 6-3.5 and 270 pounds…for now. As such a young player, surely these numbers will grow. Carey already has 24 offers, including one from Tennessee that he received in August of 2022. It’s been almost a year since that offer, and he is ready to see what Knoxville is all about. He announced via Twitter on Thursday that he would be coming to town for a visit on June 24. Other offers include Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M, with Rutgers and Syracuse from up north. 

Preston Carey, 2026 DL

As a freshman, Carey had an instant impact. For St. Anthony’s, he registered 57 total tackles, including one sack and three for a loss. He was a starter in every game for his team that won the AAA state championship. Carey is a frightening freshman. He is already dominating with size and strength, and he has so much time to improve, which is even scarier than what he’s already shown. In the run game, he does a great job of avoiding traffic to get to the ball carrier, and he makes the runner feel his force when he makes the play. Carey may very well be a known name in just a short time, so kudos to Tennessee for getting on this one early… very early.

You Might Also Like:

• Alabama Trending For Four-Star OT Daniel Calhoun
• What Would It Take For Tennessee To Make The CFP?
• Tennessee Freshman Faces: Nico Iamaleava

Join the community:

Follow Evan Crowell on Twitter: @EvanVCrowell

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.