Caleb Herring is on the move - and Tennessee fans will see him again sooner than they might like.
The former Vols edge rusher has committed to South Carolina, marking the latest chapter in a growing trend of intra-SEC transfers that are reshaping rosters and rivalries alike. After entering the portal earlier this month, Herring took his time before landing with the Gamecocks, making visits to Mississippi State, Georgia, and Miami before ultimately making his decision during a trip to Columbia. He was even spotted courtside with South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer at the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball game - a sign that the visit was going well.
At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Herring brings size, athleticism, and SEC experience to a South Carolina defense looking to rebound after a tough 2025 season. He appeared in three seasons at Tennessee, tallying 25 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks.
His most productive campaign came in 2025, when he notched four sacks - including two against Mississippi State and one apiece against Georgia and New Mexico State. He stepped into the starting lineup twice, filling in for injured starter Joshua Josephs in November’s Homecoming matchup with New Mexico State and again in the Music City Bowl against Illinois, which turned out to be his final game in orange and white.
This is a meaningful pickup for South Carolina. Herring, rated as a three-star transfer and the No. 23 edge rusher in the portal, joins a defensive front that already features standout pass rusher Dylan Stewart.
Stewart, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2025, has racked up 11 sacks and six forced fumbles over the past two seasons and should benefit from having another explosive edge threat on the opposite side. For Herring, it’s a chance to reset and carve out a bigger role in a system that could allow him to thrive.
Coming out of Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Herring was a big-time get for Tennessee in the 2023 recruiting cycle - the top-ranked player in the state and No. 123 overall in the Top247. But with the Vols’ depth at edge and some inconsistency in his usage, a fresh start made sense. Now, he’ll get that opportunity - and he won’t have to wait long to face his former team.
The SEC’s new scheduling format, which scrapped divisions following the league’s expansion, had paused the annual Tennessee-South Carolina matchup for the past two seasons. But that rivalry returns in 2026, with the Vols set to visit Columbia in October. That game just got a little more interesting.
For South Carolina, coming off a disappointing 4-win season in 2025 that included just one SEC victory (against Kentucky), adding experienced talent like Herring is a step toward getting back on track. For Tennessee, it’s another reminder that roster movement in the portal era doesn’t just mean losing players - it sometimes means facing them again.