Georgia tight end transfer Pearce Spurlin III was originally scheduled to visit Tennessee football on Thursday. However, Spurlin committed to Colorado State football Thursday morning, On3’s Hayes Fawcett first reported.
Spurlin played six games as a freshman in 2023, totaling three catches for 60 yards on the year. He ranked as four-star prospect and the No. 106 player in the 2023 recruiting class according to 247sports. They also ranked him as the No. 5 tight end in the class.
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.
It’s a time of transition for Colorado State football. The Rams fired head coach Jay Norvell amongst a 2-10 2025 season before hiring UConn coach Jim Mora to replace him. Colorado State has failed to make a bowl game in seven of the last eight years.
Tennessee football is looking for a tight end in the transfer portal after rising sophomore Jack Van Dorselaer entered the portal on Wednesday. The Vols also lost veteran tight end Miles Kitselman to graduation.
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Van Dorselaer played in 12 games for Tennessee during his freshman season, catching five passes for 23 yards and one touchdown. His lone touchdown came in Tennessee’s lopsided win over ETSU at Neyland Stadium.
The 6-foot-5, 236-pound tight end started the year as Tennessee’s third string tight end but spent a chunk of the year as backup Ethan Davis battled an injury. Most of Van Dorselaer’s role was as a blocking tight end in 12 personnel.
Tennessee now returns Davis and fellow freshman tight end DaSaahn Brame. Davis flashed in the back half of the 2025 season and Brame was a former top 100 recruit who is a talented pass catcher. Cole Harrison and incoming freshman Luca Wolf are also tight ends on Tennessee’s roster.
The departures and unproven depth in the tight end room has Tennessee searching to find a more veteran body in the room ahead of the 2026 season.
Tennessee has landed 12 commitments in the transfer portal to date including Williams, Penn State LEO Chaz Coleman, Tulane LEO Jordan Norman, Penn State inside linebacker Amare Campbell, Penn State safety Dejuan Lane, Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, Kansas State nickelback Qua Moss, Michigan safety TJ Metcalf, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, Oklahoma State receiver Gavin Freeman, Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier and Eastern Kentucky linebacker/long snapper Blake Howard.
