Pearce Spurlin III Commits to Colorado State After Medical Comeback, Tennessee Tight End Room in Flux
What was shaping up to be a key visit for Tennessee football this week took a sharp turn Thursday morning. Former Georgia tight end Pearce Spurlin III, who had been scheduled to visit Knoxville, instead committed to Colorado State-marking a significant addition for the Rams and a notable miss for the Vols as they look to shore up their tight end depth.
Spurlin’s journey back to the field is one of resilience. A four-star recruit and the No. 5 tight end in the 2023 class according to 247Sports, Spurlin flashed early potential in Athens.
He appeared in six games as a freshman, hauling in three receptions for 60 yards. But his career was quickly derailed in March 2024, when he was medically disqualified from football due to a congenital health condition.
After sitting out the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Spurlin has now been fully cleared to return-and Colorado State is betting on his upside.
For the Rams, it’s a much-needed boost in a time of transition. After a 2-10 season in 2025, Colorado State parted ways with head coach Jay Norvell and brought in former UConn head coach Jim Mora to take the reins. The program hasn’t reached a bowl game in seven of the last eight years, but landing a player like Spurlin could be a signal of a new direction under Mora’s leadership.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is still searching for answers in its tight end room. The Vols were hoping to bring Spurlin in for a visit as they look to replace both experience and depth at the position. Rising sophomore Jack Van Dorselaer entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, and veteran Miles Kitselman has graduated, leaving the Vols with a mix of young talent and unproven options heading into 2026.
Van Dorselaer played in all 12 games as a freshman, mostly in a blocking role. He caught five passes for 23 yards and scored once-his lone touchdown coming in Tennessee’s dominant win over ETSU at Neyland Stadium. The 6-foot-5, 236-pounder began the year as the third-string tight end but saw increased snaps as injuries thinned the depth chart, particularly with Ethan Davis sidelined for a portion of the season.
Now, Tennessee returns Davis-who showed flashes late in the 2025 campaign-and fellow freshman DaSaahn Brame, a top-100 recruit known for his pass-catching ability. The room also includes Cole Harrison and incoming freshman Luca Wolf, but there’s no question the Vols are looking for a veteran presence to stabilize the group.
With the 2026 season on the horizon, Tennessee has been aggressive in the transfer portal. The Vols have already landed 12 players, including defensive reinforcements like Penn State LEO Chaz Coleman, Tulane’s Jordan Norman, and inside linebacker Amare Campbell. They’ve also added depth in the secondary with Michigan safety TJ Metcalf and Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, while bolstering special teams with Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier and Eastern Kentucky long snapper Blake Howard.
Still, tight end remains a priority-and Spurlin was a target who checked a lot of boxes. His commitment to Colorado State leaves Tennessee continuing the search for experience and reliability at a position that’s suddenly thin.
The Vols have talent, but they’ll need to find the right mix of youth and experience to keep their offense balanced and versatile in 2026.