Tennessee football landed its seventh transfer portal commit Friday night when Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell committed to the Vols during his official visit. It is one of Tennessee’s biggest portal commitments to date as Jim Knowles looks to build his first defense in Knoxville.
Campbell played 769 snaps last season at Penn State where he totaled 103 tackles and three sacks while earning a 70.8 PFF grade.
Tennessee has plenty of potential shortcomings and questions on its defense entering the 2026 season but the inside linebacker room already looked pretty solid. It looks all the better and like a legitimate strength now after landing Campbell out of the portal.
The Vols lose starter Arion Carter to the NFL Draft but return every other linebacker who played meaningful snaps a season ago. That’s most exciting because of Edwin Spillman. The redshirt freshman performed like Tennessee’s best linebacker a season ago, 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception. Spillman graded out as the third best player on Tennessee’s defense and the seventh best linebacker in the SEC last season according to PFF.
Jeremiah Telander played the third most snaps in Tennessee’s linebacker room last season and is back for his senior year. He’s not a player Tennessee wants as a starting linebacker, but if he can play in spot duty as a backup, it’s a solid situation for the Vols.
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Freshman Jadon Perlotte flashed during the back half of the 2025 season and could be Tennessee’s third linebacker behind Campbell and Spillman next season. He finished the season with just 19 tackles but flashed at times down the stretch.
Jaedon Harmon was a blue-chip recruit and played an albeit small role during the 2024 season. Carter’s departure opens up a path for him to be a real contributor next season. That’s also true of incoming freshmen TJ White and Brayden Rouse.
Tennessee signed the best inside linebacker recruiting class in the country. White ranks as the No. 4 linebacker and Rouse as the No. 7 linebacker in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to 247sports. Either could push for playing time next season.
There’s depth, experience, a trio of players with pretty high ceilings. And now with Campbell, Tennessee has someone who has played in Knowles’ system and has an understanding of the Vols’ new defensive coordinators’ system.
Tennessee’s linebacker room doesn’t just look like a strength on its own roster but has the potential to be one of the better linebacker rooms in the SEC next season.
