A report from On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos on Wednesday states that Texas Christian University quarterback Josh Hoover will not be entering the transfer portal and will remain in Fort Worth, TX.
Why is that impactful news for Tennessee fans? Nakos’ report states that the quarterback’s decision came “amidst rumors of Hoover being a possible target for Tennessee in the transfer portal.”
With Hoover now staying put with TCU, Tennessee will continue to sift through its options as a buyer in the quarterback market.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel stated on Saturday that the Vols will be looking for a quarterback in the portal after moving on from Nico Iamaleava last weekend. Iamaleava is transferring to UCLA, according to multiple reports on Wednesday afternoon.
“And certainly with only two scholarship players at the quarterback position, we’re going to have to find another guy,” Heupel said after Tennessee’s Orange & White Game on Saturday, where rising redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre operated as the Vols’ two signal callers.
More from RTI: Nico Iamaleava Has Reportedly Found A New Home In Transfer Portal
One name with ties to the SEC who entered the transfer portal on Wednesday is quarterback Mike Wright. The 6-foot-4 QB played three seasons at Vanderbilt and one season at Mississippi State before spending the 2024 season with Northwestern. If Tennessee can’t get anything going with a few of its other targets in the portal, the former SEC signal caller could be a name to watch and see if the Vols show interest in.
Wright was previouly the roommate of former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker when both attended the Manning Passing Academy as counselors in 2022. Hooker spoke highly of the then-Vanderbilt quarterback, saying that the two would text on the regular.
The report that Josh Hoover is staying at TCU could be the start of a trend we see in the next couple of days as teams lock down their players with the spring portal now wide open. We don’t know who will land at Tennessee or if that even happens, but we do know that the Vols are on the hunt.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more offseason Tennessee Football coverage.
