Tennessee football continues to reload for 2026, adding two more pieces from the transfer portal in Miami defensive back Jadais Richard and Idaho State wide receiver/returner Ian Duarte. Both are late arrivals, with spring classes already underway, but their additions bring depth and experience to key areas for a Vols team looking to make noise under a revamped coaching staff and evolving roster.
Let’s break down what each player brings to the table - and why these moves matter as Tennessee shapes its identity heading into the upcoming season.
Jadais Richard: Veteran DB with Versatility and SEC Roots
Tennessee’s secondary overhaul just got another boost. Jadais Richard becomes the eighth defensive back the Vols have landed from the portal this cycle, and he might be one of the most important.
Richard is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back from West Monroe, Louisiana, with a well-traveled résumé. He started out as a four-star recruit at Vanderbilt in 2022, then transferred to Miami, where he spent the past three seasons. His most productive year came in 2024, when he logged 27 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble across 400+ defensive snaps before a season-ending injury cut things short.
While 2025 saw him in a limited role during Miami’s run to the College Football Playoff national title game, Richard brings a wealth of experience - 36 games played, eight starts - and a skill set that fits what Tennessee needs. He’s played all over the secondary: cornerback, nickel, and safety. That kind of versatility is exactly what new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles looks for in his system, which thrives on interchangeable pieces in the back end.
With just one year of eligibility remaining, Richard is a plug-and-play option who can help Tennessee right away. Whether he starts or provides depth, he’s the kind of steady, adaptable presence that can stabilize a secondary undergoing major transition.
He joins a portal DB haul that includes Kayin Lee (Auburn), Tevis Metcalf (Michigan), Qua Moss (Kansas State), Isaiah Hardge (Colorado), Dejuan Lane (Penn State), TJ Metcalf (Michigan), and DJ Burks (Appalachian State). That’s a full-on rebuild in the defensive backfield - and Richard’s experience in both the SEC and ACC gives him a leg up when it comes to adjusting quickly.
Ian Duarte: A Dynamic Returner and Reliable Target
On the offensive side, Tennessee added a different kind of weapon in Ian Duarte, a 5-foot-10, 176-pound wide receiver and return specialist from Idaho State.
Duarte may be coming from the FCS level, but he’s been highly productive. Over the past two seasons, he racked up 93 receptions for 1,025 yards and six touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, totaling 355 return yards in 2025 between punts and kickoffs.
He’s not coming in to be the WR1 - Tennessee already has a strong group at the position - but Duarte adds valuable depth and experience to a unit that blends proven talent with rising stars.
Braylon Staley, the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, returns after flashing big-play ability as both a receiver and occasional punt returner. Mike Matthews is back after an 800-yard season. Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith showed real promise as freshmen, and the incoming class includes five-star Tristen Keys and four-star Tyreek King - two more names to watch.
Duarte fits neatly into that mix. His ability to compete for return duties could free up Staley or others to focus more on offense, and his route-running and hands give Tennessee another option in the slot or as a change-of-pace target. Don’t be surprised if he carves out a role on special teams early and earns offensive snaps as the season progresses.
What This Means for Tennessee
These aren’t headline-grabbing, blockbuster transfers - but they’re the kind of smart, strategic additions that help build a complete roster.
Richard gives Tennessee a seasoned, versatile defensive back who can step into multiple roles in a new-look secondary. Duarte adds experience, special teams value, and depth to a wide receiver room that’s already brimming with talent.
As the Vols continue to reshape their roster for 2026, these late additions could prove to be difference-makers in ways that don’t always show up in the box score - but absolutely matter on Saturdays.