College Football Transfer Portal: 34 in Tennessee Volunteers Revolving Door

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

RNG on Facebook

The NCAA Transfer Portal has become a topic of hot conversation of late, but it has always been around. The sticking point, it seems that more and more players are leaving one Division I program for another opportunity early into their collegiate experience without benefit of time to make adjustments and learn a new system. One of those programs caught in the fray of the transfer portal is Tennessee. From the 2020 season, 34 players have left and/or entered the Volunteers’ program with their name going into the portal.

At current count, 28 players have opted out of Knoxville with three coming in and three player that initially sought a change but opted to return. The primary beneficiary of the mass exodus from former head coach Jeremy Pruitt to the new staff under former Central Florida head coach Josh Heupel is Oklahoma. The Sooners have picked up running back Eric Gray, offensive lineman Wanya Morris, and safety Key Lawrence.

For some context of what will be missed on the Volunteers’ roster product wise, Eric Gray led the team with 772 rushing yards and was tied with second leading rusher Ty Chandler (UNC) with four touchdowns. Gray was also fourth on the team in receiving yards (254) with two more scores off 30 receptions. Two of the top three passers are gone, Jarrett Guarantano (WSU) and J.T. Shrout (Colorado). Brandon Johnson was fifth on the team in in receptions (19) and yards (231). At left tackle, Wanya Morris (OU) and Jahmir Johnson (A&M) battled all season for the starting spot.

At weakside linebacker, former five-star Henry To’o To’o led the team in tackles (76) and tackles for a loss (10). The linebacker corps was further weakened with the losses of Quavaris Crouch (Michigan State), 57 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss, along with Kivon Bennett, 22 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks (tied team-high). Taking his 28 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks to Miami is Jack linebacker Deandre Johnson.

Tennessee Players Transferring Out

Quarterback (3)

Jarrett Guarantano – to Washington State

J.T. Shrout – to Colorado

Kasim Hill – to Rhode Island

Running Back (2)

Eric Gray – to Oklahoma

Ty Chandler – to North Carolina

Receivers and Tight Ends (5)

Jordan Allen – to Weber State

Jackson Lowe – to Jacksonville State

Brandon Johnson – to UCF

Sean Brown – undetermined

Isaiah Montgomery – to Jacksonville State

Offensive Line (3)

Wanya Morris – to Oklahoma

Jahmir Johnson – to Texas A&M

Jarious Abercrombie – to Illinois State

Defensive Line (4)

Emmit Gooden – undetermined

Savion Williams – Florida A&M

John Mincey – Arkansas State

Ethan Rinke – South Alabama

Linebacker (7)

Henry To’o To’o – undetermined

Quavaris Crouch – Michigan State

Deandre Johnson – Miami

J.J. Peterson – undetermined

Kivon Bennett – undetermined

Sayeed Shah – undetermined

Nyles Gaddy – Jackson State

Defensive Back (2)

Key Lawrence – Oklahoma

Baylen Buchanan – Louisiana Tech

Special Teams (2)

K Brent Cimagila – to Georgia Tech

P Joe Doyle – to Memphis

Players Transferring into Tennessee

Quarterbacks (2)

Hendon Hooker – from Virginia Tech

QB Joe Milton – from Michigan

Kicker (1)

Chase McGrath – from Tennessee

Opted to Come Back (3)

CB Shawn Shamburger

CB Romello Edwards

TE Austin Pope

Contribute Now

Photo credit: utsports.com; No. 3 Eric Gray

Leave a Reply