The transfer portal does not officially open up until next month, but college football coaching staffs across the country are spending the month of December evaluating their rosters and figuring out which areas they most need to improve the most ahead of next season.
What are those areas for Tennessee? Ranking the five biggest positions of need.
More From RTI: Quarterback Jake Merklinger By The Numbers at Tennessee
1. Quarterback
Unless NCAA eligibility rules change, Tennessee has to replace quarterback Joey Aguilar this offseason. The Vols have two talented young quarterbacks on their roster in redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and incoming freshman Faizon Brandon.
One of the two will likely be Tennessee’s quarterback of the future and could feasibly start next season. But with the SEC schedule expanding to nine games, Tennessee’s schedule is much more challenging. Relying on a freshman quarterback with little to no experience seems unwise.
The Vols will likely look to the transfer portal for a signal caller. But will it be a one-year veteran or someone with multiples years of eligibility? How much will Tennessee be willing to spend? Those important details remain uncertain.
2. Safety
Tennessee’s safety play was largely dreadful during the 2025 season. The Vols lose starter Andre Turrentine to graduation while Edrees Farooq and Kaleb Beasley are both returning at this point in time. Safety was already a top need in the portal before Tennessee replaced Tim Banks with Jim Knowles. The veteran defensive coordinator traditionally puts a lot on his safeties.
The only question is how many safeties will Tennessee add? Farooq showed some flashes late in the season and could be a starter again next season. But the Vols need to add one high-end starter and likely need at least one more body there.
Tennessee also has to replace nearly every snap at STAR from this past season, so a versatile defensive back with history playing safety could be helpful.
3. Defensive Tackle
Tennessee seriously lacked depth at defensive tackle last season and it got exposed due to early season injuries. Jaxson Moi and Bryson Eason are both out of eligibility, leaving Daevin Hobbs as the only proven returner at defensive tackle.
Nathan Robinson showed some flashes last season while rising sophomores Ethan Utley and Isaiah Campbell project as contributors next fall.
But Tennessee needs to add at least one if not two more veteran, proven contributors. The Vols’ defensive tackle play was great in 2024 when they rotated six players. Tennessee needs its strength to be in numbers.
4. Cornerback
Jermod McCoy is off to the NFL. Colton Hood has yet to announce anything but it seems likely that he’ll follow. Yet the Vols still have solid projected starters in Ty Redmond and Rickey Gibson. The question is what does Tennessee has behind them.
The freshmen duo of Timothy Merritt and Tre Poteat played just 95 snaps last season. Tennessee needs to add depth at cornerback. Maybe there’s a versatile body that plays both cornerback and STAR that could help.
5. Defensive End
Tennessee loses its top two strongside defensive ends from last season’s team with both Dominic Bailey and Tyre West out of eligibility. The Vols return Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye and need both to take a step forward next season.
With no true star and an unclear third option, Tennessee likely needs to add at least one body for depth purposes. This is also a spot that I would not mind the Vols splurging for one starting caliber player.
