Tennessee utility man Dalton Bargo is transferring to North Carolina State for his senior season, Pack Pride’s Cory Smith first reported Thursday morning.
Bargo spent two seasons at Tennessee after transferring to the Vols program from Missouri following a strong freshman season. The utility mad started 27 games on Tennessee’s 2024 national championship tea and was one of three players that alternated starting at designated hitter.
After a slow start to the 2025 season, Bargo found his footing and became a full time starter for Tennessee— mostly at third base and left field. The left-handed hitter settled into the cleanup spot and finished the season hitting .272 with 14 home runs, 14 doubles and 40 RBIs.
Bargo was one of Tennessee’s best and most consistent hitters in SEC play, slashing .312/.364/.504 with seven home runs, 11 doubles and 22 RBIs. However, Bargo’s Tennessee tenure had a disappointing finish as the utility man went into a slump at the wrong time.
Bargo began to struggle in the SEC Tournament and it carried into the NCAA Tournament where he totaled just one hit in the Knoxville Regional plus the Fayetteville Super Regional.
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Still, the expectation was for a MLB team to select Bargo on the final day of the MLB Draft and for the Omaha native to begin his professional career. However, Bargo went unselected in the draft. With Tennessee already tight on starting spots and scholarships, due to the House Settlement, Bargo transferred to NC State for his final year of eligibility.
It’s a good landing spot for a player that was mostly productive at Tennessee. NC State is consistently one of the better programs in the ACC. The Wolfpack have made nine of the last 10 NCAA Tournaments and made it to the College World Series in both 2021 and 2024.
Bargo’s departure continues to solidify Tennessee’s roster ahead of next season. Bowling Green transfer DJ Newman signed with the Houston Astros making Reese Chapman the only unknown for Tennessee next season. Like Bargo, Chapman unexpectedly went unselected in the MLB Draft. The expectation is for Chapman to return to Tennessee for his senior season but he hasn’t made any official announcements.
Tennessee added a pair of outfielders out of the transfer portal in Virginia star Henry Ford and Rice two-way Blaine Brown. Walters State transfer Tyler Myatt is also capably of playing corner outfield spots while Bowling Green transfer Garrett Wright both caught and played in the outfield for the Falcons.
Returning Vols Chris Newstron, Jay Abernathy, Jaxon Walker and Hunter High are capable of playing in the outfield and will compete for playing time.
