A Tennessee defensive lineman plans on entering the transfer portal when it opens up later this season. Reserve defensive end Herb Gray plans on entering the portal, ESPN’s Max Olson reported on Tuesday night shortly after the Music City Bowl went final.
Gray did not play in the Music City Bowl and RTI did not spot him on the field during pregame warmups, making it uncertain whether he traveled with the team and was at the game or not. A former walk-on, Gray played very little during his two years on the Tennessee football team.
The Maryland native did not play while redshirting during the 2024 season. He played just eight total snaps in two games this season, totaling one tackle. Gray played three snaps in Tennessee’s win over ETSU and five snaps in the victory over New Mexico State.
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Losing Gray is certainly of little significance, but strongside defensive end will be a point of emphasis for Tennessee in the transfer portal this offseason. Dominic Bailey and Tyre West led Tennessee in snaps at the spot this season and both are out of eligibility.
Rising junior Tyree Weathersby played 229 snaps over the course of the 2025 season, totaling 23 tackles and one sack. Mariyon Dye also flashed potential in his freshman season, totaling eight tackles and one sack in 88 snaps.
But Weathersby and Dye are the only two returning players with any experience at the spot. The Vols will look to add capable bodies at the spot not just for depth but to play a real role on the 2026 team.
It’s an offseason of importance for Tennessee football. The Vols are coming off a disappointing 8-5 (4-4 SEC) season where they didn’t beat a single FBS team that finished the season with a winning record. Tennessee lost to all four ranked opponents they faced as well as in the Music City Bowl against Illinois.
