Tennessee football didn’t just dip into the transfer portal this offseason - it dove in headfirst. With 20 new additions announced this week, head coach Josh Heupel and his staff are making it clear: the Vols are reloading, not rebuilding, heading into the 2026 season.
And while the portal giveth and taketh - Tennessee saw its share of talent head out as well - the Vols made some serious moves to address key needs, especially on defense. That side of the ball is undergoing a bit of a transformation, thanks in large part to the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Hired in December, Knowles is already putting his stamp on the roster, and more than half of Tennessee’s incoming transfers are defenders ready to compete in his system.
Among the 100 best players in this transfer cycle, as ranked by ESPN’s Max Olson, Steve Muench, and Tom Luginbill, three of Tennessee’s newcomers cracked the list - including one who landed in the top 15.
Let’s start there: Chaz Coleman. The EDGE rusher checks in at No. 13 overall, and he’s bringing both talent and familiarity to Knoxville.
Coleman played his true freshman season at Penn State under, you guessed it, Jim Knowles. That continuity should pay dividends for a player who’s already shown flashes of big-time potential.
At 6-foot-4, Coleman combines length, speed, and a developing toolkit that makes him a nightmare for offensive tackles. He’s slippery enough to shoot gaps and chase down plays from the backside, but he also has the power to convert speed into bull rushes and collapse the pocket. ESPN’s Muench praised Coleman’s ability to “keep blockers’ hands off him” and “win with weave moves,” which makes him a versatile threat whether he’s bending the edge or working inside.
Coleman’s first year in college was a bit of a mixed bag - an injury limited his reps - but when he was on the field, he delivered. He finished the season with a 90.6 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among freshman EDGE rushers. That’s not just promising - that’s elite upside.
And Tennessee didn’t just land Coleman from Penn State. He’s one of four former Nittany Lions making the move to Rocky Top, joining linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam.
All three will reunite with Knowles, who clearly prioritized bringing in players who already understand his system. That’s a smart way to fast-track the defensive overhaul.
Speaking of upgrades, Tennessee made a big one at cornerback with the addition of Kayin Lee, who comes in at No. 58 on ESPN’s list. The former Auburn starter brings experience, production, and SEC-tested talent to a secondary that needed reinforcements.
With Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood off to the NFL and Rickey Gibson III transferring to Texas A&M, the Vols had to restock at corner. Lee checks a lot of boxes.
He’s a former ESPN 300 recruit out of Georgia, and he’s already logged 27 career starts in the SEC. Over the past two seasons, he’s allowed just two touchdowns and held opposing quarterbacks to a 44% completion rate when targeting him.
Add in 17 pass breakups and three interceptions, and you’ve got a corner who knows how to make plays.
Lee still has one year of eligibility left, and he’s hoping to follow the same path as McCoy and Hood - use Tennessee as a platform to boost his draft stock. With rising sophomore Ty Redmond returning, the Vols now have the makings of a strong one-two punch at cornerback.
Rounding out Tennessee’s trio of ESPN-ranked transfers is Xavier Gilliam, who just made the cut at No. 98.
Another Penn State product, Gilliam adds depth - and potentially more - to the defensive line. He’s a disruptive presence in the run game, with a quick first step and the kind of pad level that lets him win leverage battles in the trenches.
Muench described him as having “active hands” and the ability to “slip blocks in tight spaces,” which should make him a valuable rotational piece, if not an outright starter.
Rodney Garner, Tennessee’s veteran defensive line coach, will have some decisions to make when it comes to the rotation. But given Gilliam’s skill set and experience, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him carve out a significant role early.
Of course, Tennessee’s gains came with some losses. Three former Vols landed on ESPN’s Top 100 list of outgoing transfers: offensive tackle Lance Heard (now at Kentucky, No.
33), EDGE rusher Jordan Ross (now at LSU, No. 71), and cornerback Rickey Gibson III (now at Texas A&M, No. 76).
All three were key contributors, and their departures leave holes that Heupel and his staff are hoping their new additions can fill.
Bottom line: Tennessee didn’t just restock the shelves - it strategically filled needs with players who can contribute right away. And with Jim Knowles reshaping the defense and a handful of familiar faces joining him, the Vols are setting themselves up to be faster, deeper, and more dynamic on that side of the ball. The 2026 season is still months away, but the foundation is being laid - and it’s looking solid.