Tennessee Transfer Portal Tracker: Who’s Leaving the Vols Ahead of January’s Window
The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, but Tennessee’s roster is already starting to shift. The Vols wrapped up an 8-4 regular season with a tough home loss to Vanderbilt, and even with the Music City Bowl against Illinois still on the calendar, some players have made it clear they’re ready for a new chapter.
This year’s portal cycle looks a little different. The NCAA moved to a single transfer window in January, giving programs more breathing room to manage recruiting, staff changes, and roster retention without juggling portal chaos during bowl prep.
A year ago, Tennessee was prepping for a College Football Playoff game while also navigating portal entries. Now, they’ve got some space-but the departures are already rolling in.
Here’s a closer look at the Vols who’ve announced intentions to hit the portal, what they brought to the field in 2025, and what their exits mean for Tennessee moving forward.
DB Boo Carter
- Announced: November 16
- 2025 Stats: 25 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups, 2 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles; 11 punt returns for 145 yards (13.2 avg)
- Size: 5-11, 200 lbs
- Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Bradley Central HS)
- Recruiting Rating: 4-star (93), No. 149 overall, No.
5 ATH, No. 3 in Tennessee
- Transfer Rating: 4-star (93), No. 2 overall, No. 1 safety
- Eligibility: 2 seasons remaining
Carter came into Knoxville with a lot of buzz-and for good reason. He earned SEC All-Freshman honors last year and flashed elite athleticism both at the Star position and as a punt returner. His explosiveness was hard to miss, and when he was locked in, he looked like a future game-changer.
But the relationship between Carter and Tennessee started to fray as early as last offseason. He nearly entered the portal a year ago, and when summer workouts rolled around, things hit a snag. After missing team activities, Carter was briefly away from the program, and although both sides tried to make it work, the writing was on the wall.
By mid-November, following the New Mexico State game, Tennessee officially dismissed him from the team. Carter’s talent is undeniable-his instincts in coverage and ability to flip the field on special teams are rare-but his exit raises questions about how teams will evaluate the off-field concerns. He’ll have suitors, no doubt, but his next stop will be about fit, structure, and a fresh start.
DL Jamal Wallace
- Announced: December 1
- 2025 Stats: 4 tackles in 6 games
- Size: 6-3, 313 lbs
- Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
(Sierra College/Ruskin HS)
- Recruiting Rating: 3-star (86), No.
59 JUCO overall, No. 16 JUCO DL
- Transfer Rating: 3-star (85), No. 105 overall, No. 7 DL
- Eligibility: 1 season remaining
Wallace was a developmental project from the start. A high school wide receiver and DB who morphed into a linebacker in JUCO, he kept bulking up and eventually found a home on the defensive line. Tennessee took a chance on his upside, and early this season, he got some run due to injuries at defensive tackle.
He logged double-digit snaps in each of the first four games-including 22 against Syracuse in the opener-but saw his role shrink as the season progressed. Just 10 snaps the rest of the way. Wallace’s blend of size and athletic background still makes him an intriguing rotational piece for another program, especially one looking for depth on the interior.
LEO Kellen Lindstrom
- Announced: December 1
- 2025 Stats: 2 tackles in 3 games
- Size: 6-5, 240 lbs
- Hometown: Springfield, Mo.
(Glendale HS)
- Recruiting Rating: 3-star (89), No.
56 DL, No. 12 in Missouri
- Transfer Rating: 3-star (84), No. 256 overall, No. 26 edge
- Eligibility: 3 seasons remaining
Lindstrom was a multi-sport athlete with a strong bloodline-his family has deep ties to Mizzou athletics-and he brought that versatility to Tennessee. Over two seasons, he played in six games and recorded six tackles, with most of his action coming in 2024.
This season, he saw limited time-just 37 total defensive snaps, with 26 of those coming against New Mexico State when Tennessee was short-handed at the LEO position. Lindstrom’s frame and athleticism still give him upside as an edge rusher, and with three years of eligibility left, he could be a developmental steal for a program willing to invest in his growth.
LB Brenden Anes
- Announced: December 10
- 2025 Stats: 5 tackles in 12 games
- Size: 6-2, 223 lbs
- Hometown: Nolensville, Tenn.
(Page HS)
- Recruiting Rating: 3-star (88), No.
96 LB, No. 22 in Tennessee
- Transfer Rating: N/A
- Eligibility: 3 seasons remaining
Anes was a late flip from Wisconsin and part of a solid in-state haul for Tennessee at linebacker. He didn’t see much time on defense-just 34 snaps total-but he carved out a consistent role on special teams. He played in every game and logged the fifth-most special teams snaps on the roster (164), contributing on kickoff, kick return, and punt return units.
Three of his five tackles came in the New Mexico State game, but his overall impact was steady, if unspectacular. Anes has the makeup of a player who can grow into a bigger role elsewhere, especially with his special teams chops and three years left to develop.
DB Marcus Goree Jr.
- Announced: Not formally announced, but no longer with the program
- 2025 Stats: 1 tackle in 2 games
- Size: Not listed
- Hometown: Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Bradley Central HS)
- Recruiting Rating: Not listed
- Transfer Rating: Not listed
- Eligibility: Not listed
A former teammate of Boo Carter at Bradley Central, Goree never quite broke through at Tennessee. He redshirted in 2024 and played just 20 defensive snaps across two seasons. This year, his only action came in September-nine snaps against ETSU and 12 against UAB-with his lone tackle coming in the win over the Bucs.
Goree showed promise in high school, earning all-state honors with big-time production on defense and special teams. But at Tennessee, he couldn’t crack the rotation in a crowded secondary. With positional flexibility-he worked at both corner and Star-he could still find a home at a program looking for depth and a player with a clean slate.
What’s Next?
The Vols aren’t done seeing movement. With the Music City Bowl still ahead and the portal window opening January 2, more names could surface. Tennessee will also be active in bringing players in, especially with key depth pieces now on the move.
Roster turnover is part of the modern game, but for Tennessee, the early departures offer a glimpse into where the staff may focus its attention in January-especially in the secondary, at edge, and along the defensive front. The next few weeks will be telling, not just in who leaves, but in how the Vols respond.