2028 QB Tristin Gaines Confirms Big Tennessee Football News

Waller, Texas — Tristin Gaines, the dual-threat quarterback who lit up Texas high-school fields for 1,267 passing yards, 12 touchdowns through the air, and another 10 on the ground this fall, told Vols on SI that the University of Tennessee has secured one of his first spring visits. The 2028 signal-caller, fresh off an appearance at The Sevens showcase in Atlanta, said the trip to Knoxville is locked in for either March 21 or 23, a development that vaults the Volunteers into the thick of his early recruitment.

“It’s going really good,” Gaines said of the attention flooding in since his season ended. “Lots of recruitments picking up right now, and it is just a blessing.”

While Tennessee is squarely in focus, Gaines stressed that his recruitment remains open. Texas Tech, Houston, SMU, and Baylor round out the current top five, and additional visits are already on the calendar. Besides Tennessee, Gaines has scheduled stops at Houston, Texas Tech, and Florida, with more potentially on the way.

Culture and quarterback development sit at the top of his checklist.

“What I’m looking to see is the culture at these schools, also how they coach the quarterbacks—how they develop them and get them to the next level,” Gaines explained. “My big thing is I want to go to the league, so how they develop quarterbacks is the main thing for me.”

Although no commitment timeline has been set, Gaines indicated he could start trimming his list sooner rather than later. Until then, coaches from the Volunteers and the rest of his top tier will be jockeying for the attention of one of the Lone Star State’s most promising 2028 prospects.