College Football Transfer Portal: 34 in Tennessee Volunteers Revolving Door
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
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
Photo credit: utsports.com; No. 3 Eric Gray