Tennessee football lost a projected starter earlier this week when edge rusher Jordan Ross entered the transfer portal. The rising junior quickly got on the road for visits and it appears that he could stay in the SEC and on Tennessee’s 2025 schedule.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Ross is currently visiting LSU football and has scheduled a visit to Alabama following the trip to Baton Rouge. Both the Tigers and Crimson Tide come to Neyland Stadium for marquee matchups next fall.
Alabama comes to Tennessee on Oct. 17 while LSU travels to Knoxville on Nov. 21 for the final home game of the Vols’ 2026 regular season.
Ross is coming off a sophomore season where he totaled 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. The Birmingham native played 249 snaps in 11 games during the 2025 season, earning a 78.2 PFF grade.
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Tennessee is in desperate need of edge rushers this offseason. The Vols lost starting LEO Josh Josephs to the NFL while top backups Caleb Herring and Ross each entered the transfer portal. The only returning LEO on Tennessee’s roster is Christian Gass— who redshirted and played just 12 snaps as a true freshman last season.
The Vols have targeted a handful of edge rushers in the transfer portal including the highly touted Chaz Coleman from Penn State. Coleman visited Tennessee earlier this week along with LSU and Ohio State. There could also be a trade of sorts between the Vols and Crimson Tide. Alabama edge rusher Qua Russaw is scheduled to visit Tennessee later this week.
To date, Tennessee has landed three players in the transfer portal and all three project as starters. That trio includes Kansas State nickel back Qua Moss, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee and LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams.
