Tennessee is making a strong push for one of the more intriguing names in the transfer portal this cycle - former Ohio State cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. And when Scott steps onto campus in Knoxville this weekend, he won’t just be visiting a new program - he’ll be reconnecting with some very familiar faces.
Scott, a six-foot corner with two years of eligibility remaining, is scheduled to be in town Friday and Saturday. After spending the last two seasons with the Buckeyes, he’s now exploring his next move - and Tennessee has positioned itself well, thanks in large part to the coaching connections already in place.
Let’s start with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Scott played under Knowles during his freshman season at Ohio State in 2024, when Knowles was in his final year with the Buckeyes before moving on to Penn State.
Now, Knowles is back in the SEC, running Tennessee’s defense - and once again, potentially coaching Scott. That kind of continuity matters, especially for a young defensive back still developing his game.
But that’s not the only familiar face Scott will see in Knoxville. Tennessee’s new cornerbacks coach, Michael Hunter Jr., also worked with Scott during his time at Ohio State.
Hunter spent the last two seasons coaching the Buckeyes’ corners, giving him firsthand insight into Scott’s skill set, work ethic, and potential. When a player knows exactly what kind of coaching he’s walking into - and trusts it - that can go a long way in the decision-making process.
Tennessee has made a habit of leveraging these kinds of relationships during this portal cycle. The Vols have already brought in a wave of talent and coaching experience from Penn State, including Knowles, secondary coach Anthony Poindexter, and a handful of defenders like EDGE rusher Chaz Coleman, defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell, and safety Dejuan Lane. The idea is clear: build a defense that can hit the ground running, with players and coaches who already speak the same language.
Scott would be another piece of that puzzle - and a valuable one at that. Coming out of the 2024 recruiting class, he was a five-star prospect and the No. 36 overall player in the nation, per 247Sports’ Composite Rankings.
He was also the No. 6 cornerback in the class and the top player in Ohio. That kind of pedigree doesn’t just disappear, even if his early college numbers haven’t jumped off the page yet.
Through two seasons in Columbus, Scott saw action in 15 games. As a freshman, he posted two tackles and a pass deflection.
In 2025, he added nine tackles and a tackle for loss, while continuing to contribute on special teams. The production hasn’t been flashy, but the tools are there - and with the right opportunity, he could still blossom into a high-level starter.
The Vols are already set to return starting corner Ty Remond from last season, and they’ve added Auburn transfer Kayin Lee to the mix as well. But bringing in Scott could raise the level of competition in the cornerback room and give Tennessee some much-needed depth on the back end. In today’s game, with spread offenses and deep receiver rotations, you can’t have too many capable corners - and Scott certainly fits that mold.
Before arriving in Knoxville, Scott is expected to visit Oregon. But the Vols will have their chance to make their pitch - and they’ll be doing it with coaches who already know exactly what he brings to the table. If Tennessee can close the deal, it would be another savvy move in what’s shaping up to be an aggressive and calculated portal haul on defense.