Cal running back transfer Kendrick Raphael is visiting Tennessee football beginning on Thursday according to a report from Volquest.
Raphael is coming off a breakout season at Cal where he rushed for 943 yards and 13 touchdowns on 232 carries. He ran for 100-plus yards in three games last season including in Cal’s upset win over SMU in November. Raphael also turned in multi-touchdown games against Duke, Virginia Tech and Virginia.
The Naples, Florida native is also a threat as a pass catcher, totaling 34 receptions for 245 yards and one touchdown last season.
Before his breakout season at Cal, Raphael spent the first two years of his college career at NC State where he combined to rush for 734 yards and four touchdowns on 145 carries. He faced off against Tennessee back in 2024, totaling just five yards on four carries.
More From RTI: Former Tennessee Cornerback Staying In SEC, On Vols’ 2026 Schedule
Tennessee has been looking for a running back in the transfer portal since it opened last week. The Vols were linked to NC State’s Hollywood Smothers and Jacksonville State’s Cam Cook before they committed to Alabama and West Virginia, respectively. Louisiana running back Zylan Perry visited Tennessee earlier this week before committing to Cincinnati.
Tennessee returns starting running back DeSean Bishop is returning to Knoxville for his redshirt junior season after rushing for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries during the 2025 season. But the Vols need to add depth behind him.
Star Thomas is out of eligibility after spending just one season at Tennessee. Rising junior Peyton Lewis entered the transfer portal earlier this offseason before landing at his home state Virginia on Thursday night. Rising sophomore Daune Morris will likely step into a larger role next season, but Tennessee still needs to add another capable and experience back.
Tennessee football has landed three transfer portal commitments to date— Kansas State defensive back Qua Moss, LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams and Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee.
