Tennessee football is experiencing a significant shift in its roster as players move in and out of the transfer portal. This dynamic process allows teams to address their needs and strengthen their squads for future seasons. The transfer portal closed on January 16 for new entries, but teams can still recruit players who had already entered the portal before that date.

After finishing the 2025 season with an 8-5 record and a narrow loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl on December 30, the Vols are looking to rebuild and enhance their team for the 2026 season. Here’s a detailed look at the players Tennessee has added through the transfer portal and those who have left the program.

Players Added to the Tennessee Football Roster

QB Ryan Staub (from Colorado)

Ryan Staub, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback from Stevenson Ranch, California, committed to Tennessee on January 18. He played 12 games with two starts over three seasons at Colorado, including a redshirt year. Staub has two seasons of eligibility remaining and completed 30 of 55 passes for 427 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions in the 2025 season. He also rushed for one touchdown.

DB Isaiah Hardge (from Colorado)

Isaiah Hardge, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound defensive back, joined Tennessee on January 18. He spent three seasons at Colorado, including a redshirt year, and has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Hardge primarily played on special teams over 23 games and made 15 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and one fumble recovery in the 2025 season. He is expected to compete for backup nickelback roles.

S DJ Burks (from Appalachian State)

DJ Burks, a safety from Appalachian State, announced his commitment to Tennessee on January 17. With 40 career games under his belt, he recorded 133 tackles and four interceptions. In the 2025 season, Burks had 73 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and five pass breakups.

TE Trent Thomas (from South Alabama)

Trent Thomas, a tight end from South Alabama, committed to Tennessee on January 17. Over the past two seasons, he caught five passes for 39 yards. A 6-foot-5, 254-pounder, he could serve as a blocking tight end for the Vols.

RB Javin Gordon (from Tulane)

Javin Gordon, a running back from Tulane, joined Tennessee on January 17. In the 2025 season, he rushed for 516 yards and five touchdowns while catching 13 passes as a redshirt freshman. A 5-foot-10, 200-pounder, Gordon has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

OL Donovan Haslam (from West Virginia)

Donovan Haslam, an offensive lineman from West Virginia, committed to Tennessee on January 17. He spent his first three years at Austin Peay and was a part-time starter at West Virginia in 2025. Haslam has one season of eligibility remaining and played 11 games, including five starts, at West Virginia.

DB TJ Metcalf (from Michigan)

TJ Metcalf, a defensive back from Michigan, was reported to be transferring to Tennessee on January 13. He started at Arkansas and Michigan over three seasons, playing 37 games. In 2025, he had 58 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He can play safety and nickelback.

CB Tevis Metcalf (from Michigan)

Tevis Metcalf, a cornerback from Michigan, committed to Tennessee on January 17. He is the younger brother of TJ Metcalf, who previously committed to the Vols. Tevis played three games at Michigan in 2025, recording one tackle and forcing a fumble.

EDGE Jordan Norman (from Tulane)

Jordan Norman, an edge rusher from Tulane, committed to Tennessee on January 12. He had 28 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, and six sacks in the 2025 season, including four tackles in Tulane’s loss to Ole Miss in a College Football Playoff game.

S Dejuan Lane (from Penn State)

Dejuan Lane, a safety from Penn State, committed to Tennessee on January 10. He had 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and one sack in 13 games in the 2025 season. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

EDGE Chaz Coleman (from Penn State)

Chaz Coleman, an edge rusher from Penn State, committed to Tennessee on January 10. He was ranked as the No. 1 edge rusher in the portal by 247Sports. Coleman had eight tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble in nine games as a freshman.

LB Amare Campbell (from Penn State)

Amare Campbell, a linebacker from Penn State, committed to Tennessee on January 9. He led Penn State with 103 tackles and 769 defensive snaps in the 2025 season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

DT Xavier Gilliam (from Penn State)

Xavier Gilliam, a defensive tackle from Penn State, committed to Tennessee on January 8. He played 17 games over two seasons at Penn State and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

PK Cooper Ranvier (from Louisville)

Cooper Ranvier, a kicker from Louisville, committed to Tennessee on January 8. He made 21 of 25 field goals (84%) in the 2025 season and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

CB Kayin Lee (from Auburn)

Kayin Lee, a cornerback from Auburn, committed to Tennessee on January 7. He has 36 games played and 25 starts over the past three seasons. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

DB Qua Moss (from Kansas State)

Qua Moss, a defensive back from Kansas State, committed to Tennessee on January 4. He can play nickelback or safety and has 41 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, a sack, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in his lone season at Kansas State.

OT Ory Williams (from LSU)

Ory Williams, an offensive tackle from LSU, committed to Tennessee on January 6. He is a 6-foot-8, 335-pounder with a big upside and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

LS Blake Howard (from Eastern Kentucky)

Blake Howard, a long snapper from Eastern Kentucky, committed to Tennessee on January 8. He served as the primary long snapper in the 2025 season and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Players Leaving Tennessee Football via Transfer Portal

TE Jack Van Dorselaer (Oklahoma)

Jack Van Dorselaer transferred from Tennessee to Oklahoma. He had five receptions for 23 yards and one touchdown in his freshman season.

QB Jake Merklinger (UConn)

Jake Merklinger transferred from Tennessee to UConn. He played six games over two seasons and went 19-of-33 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

EDGE Caleb Herring (South Carolina)

Caleb Herring transferred from Tennessee to South Carolina. He had 25 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, five sacks, and one forced fumble in his UT career.

DB/PR Boo Carter (Colorado)

Boo Carter transferred from Tennessee to Colorado following his dismissal from the UT team in November. He had 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, and three forced fumbles.

DL Jamal Wallace (Utah)

Jamal Wallace transferred from Tennessee to Utah. He was plagued by injuries in the 2024 season and played only three games.

OT Lance Heard (Kentucky)

Lance Heard transferred from Tennessee to Kentucky. He started all 13 games at left tackle in 2025 and allowed only two sacks in 887 snaps.

EDGE Jordan Ross (LSU)

Jordan Ross transferred from Tennessee to LSU, joining former Vols coach Lane Kiffin. He had 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 11 games in 2025.

OL William Satterwhite (LSU)

William Satterwhite transferred from Tennessee to LSU. He played 11 games over two seasons and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

CB Rickey Gibson (Texas A&M)

Rickey Gibson transferred from Tennessee to Texas A&M. He suffered a season-ending upper-body injury in a Week 1 win over Syracuse.

RB Peyton Lewis (Virginia)

Peyton Lewis transferred from Tennessee to Virginia, returning to his home state. He rushed for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns in 23 games.

PK Max Gilbert (Arkansas)

Max Gilbert transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas. He made all 118 PAT kicks and 34 of 45 field goals over two seasons.

OT Bennett Warren (Minnesota)

Bennett Warren transferred from Tennessee to Minnesota. He played 18 games over two seasons, mostly on special teams.

DL Jayden Loftin (Wisconsin)

Jayden Loftin transferred from Tennessee to Wisconsin. He was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class and took a redshirt in his freshman season.

OL Max Anderson (Kentucky)

Max Anderson transferred from Tennessee to Kentucky. He played 15 games over two seasons for the Vols.

DL Josh Schell (UCF)

Josh Schell transferred from Tennessee to UCF. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season.

WR Tommy Winton, walk-on (ETSU)

Tommy Winton transferred from Tennessee back to ETSU. He is a walk-on who started his career at ETSU.

DL Herb Gray, walk-on (UNLV)

Herb Gray transferred from Tennessee to UNLV. He redshirted in 2024 and played two games in 2025.

LB Brenden Anes, walk-on (Western Michigan)

Brenden Anes transferred from Tennessee to Western Michigan. He played 12 games in the 2025 season, mostly on special teams.

DB Kaleb Beasley (Louisville)

Kaleb Beasley entered the transfer portal on January 12. He played 26 games over two seasons at Tennessee, mostly on special teams.

OL Brian Grant

Brian Grant entered the portal on January 5. He played in 28 games over four seasons, mostly on special teams.

EDGE Emmanuel Okoye

Emmanuel Okoye entered the portal on January 2. He played eight games and made one tackle in his career, all during the 2025 season.

WR Amari Jefferson

Amari Jefferson plans to enter the portal on January 1. He was the 2023 Mr. Football in Division II-AAA at Baylor School.

DL Trevor Duncan

Trevor Duncan announced on December 23 that he plans to enter the portal. He retired from football due to medical reasons after spending two seasons at Tennessee.

DB Marcus Goree

Marcus Goree announced on December 13 that he plans to enter the portal. He played two games in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, mostly on special teams.

DE Kellen Lindstrom

Kellen Lindstrom announced on December 1 that he plans to enter the portal. He played three games in 2024 and two tackles in 2025.

WR Trey Weary, walk-on

Trey Weary plans to enter the portal on January 7. He had four catches for 24 yards over the past two seasons.

WR Braylon Harmon, walk-on

Braylon Harmon announced on January 1 that he plans to enter the portal. He played six games over two seasons and had a 41-yard reception against UAB in 2025.

DB Colin Brazzell, walk-on

Colin Brazzell announced on January 1 that he plans to enter the portal. He is the younger brother of UT wide receiver Chris Brazzell.