Tennessee offensive lineman Larry Johnson III is heading to the spring transfer portal, he announced in an Instagram post on Sunday morning.
Johnson played at Tennessee for two seasons, 2023 and 2024, after transferring from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College after the 2022 season. The Savannah, GA, native will have two more seasons of eligibility remaining.
Johnson on Instagram:
“Vols Nation: I have been truly blessed to be welcomed into the Vols family and to cross paths with incredible people who have helped shape me both on and off the field.
To Coach Heupel, Coach Elarbee, and the entire Tennessee staff–thank you for believing in me, challenging me, and helping me grow as both a player and a man. The opportunity to wear the orange and white and represent this program is something l’ll forever be grateful for. Your guidance and trust meant the world to me, and I’ll carry those lessons for life.
To my brothers–thank you for embracing me like family. The bond we built goes beyond the game. From film sessions and workouts to every rep we took together on the field, I’m better because of each of you. It’s been an honor.
After much thought and prayer, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal. This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is right for my path moving forward.
Thank you, Vol Nation, for all the love and support. I’ll carry the memories, lessons, and relationships with me into this next chapter.”
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Loses Second Safety To Transfer Portal In Spring Window
Johnson earned a redshirt in his first year with Tennessee with snaps against Virginia, South Carolina, UConn, and Iowa. In his second year with the program, Johnson served as a reserve tackle and saw action in 11 games last season.
With the turnover that Tennessee’s offensive line room had this past offseason, Johnson was projected to be in the tackle position battle with returning starter Lance Heard on the left side and five-star early enrollee David Sanders Jr. on the right side of the line. The 6-foot-7, 350-pounder was primarily practicing at the right tackle position during spring training camp, and his departure means that Sanders is likely in position to take the starting job there this fall.
Sanders was the No. 6 overall player and the No. 2 offensive tackle in last year’s recruiting class, according to 247’s Composite Rankings.
Tennessee lost four starters from the offensive line last season but did add two guards through the transfer portal with Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton and Arizona transfer Moe Wendell. UT redshirt freshman William Satterwhite projects as Cooper Mays’ replacement at center, while Sanders and Heard project to hold down the ends of the line. Obviously, with it still just being April, those projections are fluid and may change with offseason news.
Johnson is the Vols’ second offensive lineman and fifth overall player to enter the portal this spring. Johnson joins QB Nico Iamaleava, S John Slaughter, S Christian Charles, and OL Ayden Bussell as Tennessee’s spring departures, though Iamaleava is the only one of the bunch who has reportedly found a new home already.
The spring window opened last Wednesday, Apr. 16, and will remain open until Friday, Apr. 25. Although it isn’t nearly as active as the opening winter portal window, it still gives coaches and teams the ability to fill last-minute holes before the summer and fall training camps. Tennessee, for instance, appears to be a buyer in the quarterback market this spring after losing Iamaleava prior to the spring game last weekend.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football offseason news.
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