Former Tennessee running back Khalifa Keith committed to Appalachian State football on Saturday afternoon over three weeks after he announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.
Keith was Tennessee’s fifth string running back in his redshirt freshman season. He played in four games where he totaled 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Keith also recorded one catch for eight yards.
A 6-foot-1, 239-pound running back, Keith also played in four games during his first season in Knoxville when he totaled 35 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Keith is one of two Tennessee running backs to enter the transfer portal this offseason along with sophomore Cam Seldon. Combine that with star Dylan Sampson declaring for the NFL Draft and Tennessee is returning just two key running backs from its 2024 roster.
Redshirt freshman DeSean Bishop and freshman Peyton Lewis were Tennessee’s top two backups last season and combined to rush for 794 yards and six touchdowns. Bishop and Lewis will lead Tennessee’s running back room in 2025 with incoming freshmen Daune Morris and Dylan Lewis providing depth. The Vols could also look to add a running back in the transfer portal.
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Even with Tennessee’s roster turnover at running back, Keith was unlikely to be a key back for the Vols in 2025 which he admitted led to his departure.
“This has been a difficult decision but I feel it’s the right one in order for me to continue chasing my athletic and academic goals,” Keith wrote in a statement. “I’m blessed to have met and built life long relationships with my brothers and coaches that would last a lifetime.
“I’m excited to see where my journey goes from here. This is to everyone who has been apart of my journey so far. Go Vols.”
Keith was a member of Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class where he ranked as a three-star recruit and the No. 613 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Appalachian State is coming off an incredibly disappointing season where they posted just a 5-6 record and missed a bowl game for the first time since moving up to the FBS in 2014. The poor season led to the Mountaineers making a coaching change and hiring South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains.
