It’s debatable whether the Canada or Chattanooga pipelines have been more valuable to Tennessee football recruiting lately because there’s so much overlap between them.

UT signed four Canadian players in its 2026 class. And it has three players from Baylor School in Chattanooga.

Advertisement

Offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda and defensive back Jamyan Theodore fit into both categories. Osenda is from Airdrie, Alberta. Theodore is from Montreal, Quebec. They played together at Baylor School the past two seasons.

Most notably, they were Baylor teammates and close friends with David Gabriel Georges, the Canadian five-star running back that committed to the Vols in the 2027 class after a high-profile recruiting battle with Ohio State.

“It’s a great relationship. Both him and I have the origins that we’re Haitians (who grew up in Montreal), so we have a close bond,” Theodore said. “His uncle and my father know each other and have a close bond, so we naturally built a close bond together.

“Because we are both from Canada and speak French, we were able to speak to each other and help each other out in tough moments.”

Members of that Baylor trio aren’t the only Canadians packing UT’s current and future rosters.

Advertisement

Freshman defensive lineman Carter Gooden is originally from Hamilton, Ontario. Freshman offensive lineman Jeremy George-El, a former Knox Catholic standout, is from Montreal.

They gave coach Josh Heupel the opening for a well-timed joke on signing day in December.

“South Dakota was annexed by Canada a few years back, so it was part of our curriculum in school,” said Heupel, a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

How COVID pandemic pushed Canadian players to Tennessee

But in all seriousness, that Canadian pipeline has proved profitable for the Vols, especially via Baylor School.

It goes back to the COVID-19 pandemic. High school sports in Canada were shut down for almost two years. But the United States opened up much earlier, especially in the South and Midwest.

Advertisement

Elite Canadian athletes traveled south of the border to play high school football. Osenda played one season in Florida and then moved to Chattanooga. Theodore spent two years in Ohio and then to Chattanooga. They found a home in Baylor’s boarding school and an opportunity to impress college football recruiters.

George-El played at Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and then at Knox Catholic. Gooden played two seasons in Massachusetts.

They’ve converged at Tennessee thanks to high school recruiting connections that extended to Canada’s best football exports.

“You’ve seen more and more guys come down from Canada, typically to private schools, chasing their dreams of playing American football at this level,” Heupel said. “You think about the journey that they have to be on to ultimately get to this point. There’s so much sacrifice from the families and the kid moving away from home. They’re hungry to accomplish their goals and dreams.”

Advertisement

How speaking French on football field is an asset

Getting one Canadian player on the roster obviously helps UT land others. They share a bond and culture.

“It’s definitely very comforting, especially for me and (Theodore), coming from Canada and having another brother (on the team) to know that we’re here for a reason,” said Osenda, a 6-foot-8, 330-pounder who was one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.

“We’re here to show out for our country and do everything we can to get better every day.”

For Theodore and Gabriel Georges, that bond is often demonstrated in their shared language.

Advertisement

“I remember in games (at Baylor) when I needed to calm him down in games, I would speak to him in French and people would be like, ‘Woah, what’s going on?’ ” Theodore said. “And when he needed to calm me down, he would speak French.”

Canadians are eager for Gabriel Georges arrival with Vols

Canadian players on UT’s 2026 roster are trying to adjust to the college game like their fellow freshmen. But they said they’ll keep an eye on Gabriel Georges’ much-anticipated senior season.

“It’s definitely exciting to see what he’s going to do in high school this year,” said Osenda, who blocked for Gabriel Georges during his 1,756-yard season en route to Baylor’s 2025 state title.

Advertisement

Gabriel Georges can sign with Tennessee during the early signing period in December, and he can enroll in January. If all the current Canadian players return, his arrival will give the Vols five players from north of the border.

“We were always able to stay on the same path and obviously seeing (Gabriel Georges) come here is going to be great,” Theodore said. “We’ve all seen his talent. He’s a great player, and I’m excited to keep bonding with him and see him develop here.”

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Inside Tennessee football’s Canadian pipeline to David Gabriel Georges