It’s been far from the floodgates opening, but there have been a handful of Tennessee football players who have already announced their intention to enter the transfer portal. It won’t open until Jan. 2, but some are getting ahead of it and declaring ahead of the Vols’ Music City Bowl clash with Illinois.
The latest to reveal his plan to enter is redshirt freshman defensive back Marcus Goree Jr., according to a report from VolQuest. He was listed as the third-string STAR this year, but only played on defense in two games. This came against ETSU, when he played three snaps, and UAB, when he played nine.
As a true freshman in 2024, Goree also only played in two games. That year, he saw action against Chattanooga and Kent State for a total of eight snaps.
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Goree was a three-star recruit out of high school, according to 247. He played for Bradley Central in Cleveland, Tennessee, the same school Boo Carter finished his high school career at. Carter also played STAR and was second on the depth chart behind Jalen McMurray this season. However, stemming back to frustration in the preseason, there was an unfixable rift between him and the coaching staff, leading to Carter deciding to transfer midway through the season.
For the upcoming Music City Bowl, the expectation is that Jalen McMurray will continue to play the majority of snaps at STAR. This season, after Carter left the team, he was rarely replaced by William Wright. Other times, Tennessee went to a three-linebacker look instead. UT could also opt to plug in a young player in the role to get experience ahead of next season.
This is now the fifth player from the 2025 team to announce they intend to enter the portal. Along with Goree and Carter, edge rusher Kellen Lindstrom, linebacker Brenden Anes and defensive lineman Jamal Wallace are departing.
