This offseason, Tennessee football attacked the transfer portal to supplement its roster on both sides of the ball. The result was adding 22 transfers on top of a deep recruiting class to create the group for Josh Heupel’s sixth season on Rocky Top.
That raises the question: Compared to the SEC, is that a lot or not many transfers joining the program?
According to On3, it’s well on the lower side. The 22 incoming transfers are the third fewest in the conference, behind just Georgia’s 15 and Texas’ 21. Sitting at 22 may be on the lower end, but it’s in the range of a healthy program. The more transfers you bring in, the more pieces that have left. Other teams with fewer than 30 additions include Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
At the top of the conference are teams that hired new head coaches. Arkansas leads the way at 48, then Auburn at 46, LSU and Ole Miss at 44 and Kentucky at 42.
SEC football programs with the most transfers entering the 2026 season🔥https://t.co/yFkbbxQFAR pic.twitter.com/xhZyhAXWOl
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) July 16, 2026
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Offensively, Tennessee brings in a number of transfers, but just one is projected to start. With Lance Heard leaving for Kentucky, the Vols brought in LSU transfer Ory Williams, who projects to be the starter at right tackle.
Defensively, there will be many more new faces. Joining new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, he brings in defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell and safety Dejuan Lane from Penn State, with each capable of starting. Other notable defensive transfers include Tulane edge rusher Jordan Norman, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, Miami cornerback Jaidas Richard, Kansas State nickelback Qua Moss, Michigan safety TJ Metcalf and more.
Tennessee will begin the season against Furman at home on September 5. The game will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on SECN+/ESPN+. Then, it’s a road trip to play Georgia Tech the following Saturday, September 12, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
