Tennessee football has suffered a late addition to the transfer portal in true freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer. In 2025, Van Dorselaer was often the third tight end off the bench and was primarily used as a blocker. In 13 games, he also contributed five receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Now that he is on the way out, what is left in the Vols’ tight end room, and will they need to bring in another piece?
At the top of the room, Ethan Davis returns. He spent this past season as the second-string tight end behind Miles Kitselman; however, Kitselman is now out of eligibility after using his juco year to return in 2025.
Davis produced 257 yards and two touchdowns on 21 receptions last season. He hit his stride at the end of the regular season with Kitselman sidelined due to injury, though. In the win at Florida, he posted 72 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. The next week vs. Vanderbilt, he caught seven passes for 85 yards.
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Behind Davis is where the question mark comes in. That was where Van Dorselaer projected to be slotted, but now he’s on the move. Of current options on the roster, the next man up is rising sophomore Dasaahn Brame. He needs to improve as a blocker this offseason, but he is already an elite pass catcher. His ability in space as a route runner earned him a job as a backup slot receiver by the end of the 2025 season.
Other players on the roster include Cole Harrison and incoming freshman Luca Wolf, though neither is expected to play too big a role this upcoming year.
That means an addition through the transfer portal is likely. Tennessee already has a target in mind, as well. Georgia tight end transfer Pearce Spurlin III will be on campus this week for a visit and has a prior relationship with Davis.
Spurlin played six games as a freshman in 2023, totalling three catches for 60 yards on the year. He was considered a four-star prospect, No. 106 recruit and No. 5 tight end in the 2023 class out of high school, according to 247.
However, in March of 2024, Spurlin was forced to take a medical disqualification from football due to a congenital health condition. After missing both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he has been fully cleared to return to action.
