A wave of Tennessee transfers scattered across the Power Four this offseason, and the list is a long one. In all, 28 players left the Vols through the portal last January, with 18 of them ending up on Power Four rosters and eight staying in the SEC.
Some of those departures look like they could matter right away. Others may be battling for limited roles, the same kind of fight they were facing in Knoxville.
Here’s where the former Tennessee players landed for this college football season:
Jack Van Dorselaer is at Oklahoma, where he is listed as the third tight end for the Sooners.
Kaleb Beasley transferred to Louisville, while Jordan Ross is now at LSU. Brian Grant also moved on, joining Memphis as the second listed right guard.
William Satterwhite is at LSU as well, and Jayden Loftin landed at Wisconsin. Emmanuel Okoye is now with California.
On special teams, Max Gilbert is at Arkansas and is listed as the starting kicker, with a potential role on kickoffs.
Caleb Herring is at South Carolina, Rickey Gibson III is at Texas A&M and is listed as a potential cornerback starter, and Lance Heard is now at Kentucky. Max Anderson also transferred to Kentucky.
Bennett Warren is at Minnesota, Peyton Lewis is at Virginia and is listed as a potential second-string back, and Jake Merklinger is now at UConn.
On the defensive side, Jamal Wallace transferred to Utah, Boo Carter is at Colorado and Josh Schell is at UCF.
There was also a Week Zero update for Peyton Lewis, who played against NC State and carried the ball six times for 10 yards.
Tennessee’s first chance to see some of these familiar names on the other sideline won’t come until 2026. The Vols open that season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Furman in Knoxville.
In Other News...
Rick Barnes Has A Huge Recruiting Opportunity This Weekend
Tennessee is turning a football weekend into a full-court recruiting showcase, with the mens basketball staff set to host several elite prospects on official visits while the Vols have the campus spotlight. Among the visitors are five-star point guard Cayden Daughtry and four-star point guard Micah Gordon from the 2027 class, along with five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno from the 2028 class, giving Rick Barnes and his staff a chance to put the program in front of some of the nations most intriguing young talents.
The timing matters because these trips line up with football game weekends, when Knoxville is at its liveliest and the athletic department can lean into the atmosphere. Tennessee is not the only program trying to make an impression, but the Vols will also have the Lady Vols welcoming five-star point guard Cece Dennis, adding another notable recruiting stop to what could be a busy and important stretch for the school across both programs. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Is Already Chasing A Massive Lineman For Its Future
Tennessee is already looking well down the road in its offensive line recruiting, and the latest name on the board is Rex George-Taylor, a 2028 prospect from Darlington, Ga. The Volunteers extended a scholarship offer to the towering junior, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, adding him to a growing early list that also includes offers from Cincinnati, Mississippi State and Connecticut.
George-Taylors reaction to the Tennessee offer was part of the story, but the bigger takeaway for Vols fans is how aggressively the staff is approaching future line prospects this far out. Recruiting for players still years away from signing day is all about getting in early and staying present, and Tennessee appears to have done just that, with more developments expected as his recruitment continues to build. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Saw A Week 2 Problem For Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech walked out of its opener with a 14-13 loss to Colorado, and the way it unfolded should have Tennessee fans paying attention. The Yellow Jackets led by six late, but Colorado found the go-ahead touchdown with 37 seconds left, turning what looked like a manageable finish into a painful first-game collapse.
The bigger concern for Georgia Tech was on offense, where the Jackets never found the end zone and finished with only 51 rushing yards while Colorado piled up 183 on the ground. Even the final chance to escape with a win ended in frustration after a former Tennessee transfer got in the way, a reminder that one rough Saturday can expose more than just a scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]