The transfer portal is closed for everyone besides Miami and Indiana. Tennessee football is pursuing a few more pieces in the portal before finalizing its roster for the 2026 season.
Tennessee lost 27 players to the transfer portal after last season with varying degrees of experience and potential. Tiering and ranking the most significant losses for Tennessee to the portal.
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Would Have Started
1. LEO Jordan Ross
A former five-star recruit, Ross had a nice sophomore year and seemed poised for a breakout junior season before entering the portal and landing at LSU. The Vols are thin at LEO and will miss Ross no matter what. He could also be a breakout star and someone Tennessee kicks themselves for not paying.
2. CB Rickey Gibson
Gibson was a quality starter at corner for Tennessee as a true sophomore in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury in the first half of the season opener. The Vols replaced him well with Auburn starter Kayin Lee, but Gibson had All-SEC potential and could very well earn those honors after landing at Texas A&M.
3. LT Lance Heard
Heard was a good starting left tackle a season ago, allowing just one sack while starting 13 games. But whether it was the NFL or the portal, Heard always seemed poised to be elsewhere in 2026. That ends up being Kentucky while David Sanders Jr will move to left tackle.
Would Have Played Meaningful Snaps Off The Bench
4. LEO Caleb Herring
Herring started the 2025 season fast but fizzled as it developed. He’s flashed as a pass rusher and that would have earned him a role at Tennessee. But Herring struggled against the run and was very inconsistent. He landed at South Carolina.
5. TE Jack Van Dorselaer
Van Dorselaer was in line to be Tennessee’s backup tight end and would have played a lot in 12 personnel before leaving to play for Jason Witten at Oklahoma. But he’s a blocking tight end first and not a difference maker as a pass catcher
6. RB Peyton Lewis
Lewis rushed for 290 yards and seven touchdowns as a backup running back last season and would have remained in that role before transferring to Virginia.
Would Have Been Nice For Depth
7. S Kaleb Beasley
Beasley was Tennessee’s third safety last season but struggled in that role as a sophomore. The Vols recruited over him in the portal with Penn State’s Dejuan Lane and Michigan’s TJ Metcalf. Beasley ended up at Louisville.
8. C William Satterwhite
Satterwhite was Tennessee’s backup center where he played 137 snaps last season. He was still behind Sam Pendleton entering 2026 before landing at LSU.
9. OT Bennett Warren
Warren was technically Tennessee’s third offensive tackle last season but the Vols instead moved Jesse Perry outside when Heard or Warren were banged up. Still, having the former four-star back for a third year would have been a win. Warren transferred to Minnesota.
10. LEO Jayden Loftin
Loftin did not play as a true freshman last season but was a former four-star recruit and Tennessee badly needs depth at LEO. Loftin landed at Wisconsin.
11. DT Jamal Wallace
Wallace was a defensive tackle depth piece for Tennessee last season. The spot remains uncertain for Tennessee next season, but it was hard to see Wallace, who landed at Utah, earning a bigger role.
12. LEO Emmanuel Okoye
Okoye spent two years at Tennessee but started his career as a tight end. Similar to Loftin, Tennessee could another body at the LEO spot. Okoye landed at Cal.
13. OG Max Anderson
Anderson was a backup offensive guard. Losing him was no massive loss but he did have experience in the program. He stayed in the SEC at Kentucky.
Max Gilbert
14. K Max Gilbert
Gilbert started for Tennessee the last two years, but it was simply time for a change for both parties. Gilbert landed at Arkansas.
Boo Carter
15. STAR Boo Carter
Carter is a clearly talented football player but the juice was not worth the squeeze for Tennessee. It proved to be the wrong decision for Heupel to keep Carter on the team last season and now he’ll be at Colorado in 2026.
Didn’t Think Twice About
16. QB Jake Merklinger
17. OG Brian Grant
18. DB Marcus Goree Jr.
19. DT Josh Schell
20. DE Kellen Lindstrom
21. WR Amari Jefferson
22. LB Breden Anes
23. OT Trevor Duncan
24. DL Herb Gray
25. WR Tommy Winton III
26. DB Collin Brazzell
27. WR Braylon Harmon
