Star Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook was planning on visiting Tennessee football this week. But Cook found his new home before making it to Knoxville. Cook committed to West Virginia on Tuesday afternoon, choosing the Mountaineers over the Vols and another of other suitors.
Cook was a standout at Jacksonville State during his junior season, totaling 1,659 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on 295 carries. He also caught 30 passes for 286 yards.
247sports ranked Cook as a three-star transfer, the No. 220 player and No. 18 running back in the transfer portal to date.
Tennessee starting running back DeSean Bishop is back in 2026 after rushing for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries a season ago. But rotational back Star Thomas is out of eligibility while Peyton Lewis entered the transfer portal.
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So while the Vols are not in need of a bell cow back, they do need to add a capable running back to parter with Bishop and rising sophomore Daune Morris who played well in his limited reps as a true freshman this past season.
The Vols have been linked to three transfer running backs to date with Cook choosing West Virginia and North Carolina State’s Hollywood Smothers committing to Alabama Tuesday. Tennessee hosted Louisiana running back Zylan Perry on a visit Monday.
Perry rushed for 689 yards and eight touchdowns on 138 carries in his redshirt junior season with the Ragin’ Cajuns. He also caught 16 passes for 106 yards. 247sports ranks Perry as a three-star and the No. 71 running back in the portal.
Tennessee football has landed two transfers to date— Kansas State nickelback Qua Moss and LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams. However, the Vols are still pursuing a number of targets as they look to re-bolster their roster after a disappointing 2025 season.
