Pure and utter chaos across college football is ready to unfold on Friday. That’s because January 2 marks the opening of the NCAA transfer portal. While a large number of athletes have already announced their intention to enter, they will now be officially able to put their name in and be recruited elsewhere (legally).
For Tennessee football, there have been a handful of Vols to announce their intention to enter once it opens up on Friday. This includes two projected starters, a few contributors and a good number of backups and reserve players who rarely saw action.
More could enter throughout the coming weeks, though, with the portal not closing until January 16. As of 10 p.m. ET on Thursday night, here’s who has already decided to depart, though.
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The following is sorted into four categories. Starters are players who were annual starters at their respective position during the 2025 season. Contributors are players who typically saw the field at their position in every game. Backups may not see the field on a consistent basis, but would be in line with injuries. Reserves are players whose primary role was to fill out the roster.
Starters
- LT Lance Heard
- CB Rickey Gibson III
Contributors
- DB Boo Carter (left the team in November)
- RB Peyton Lewis
Backups
- QB Jake Merklinger
- DL Kellen Lindstrom
- DL Jamal Wallace
- OL Bennett Warren
- LB Brenden Anes
- DB Marcus Goree Jr.
- OL Max Anderson
- WR Amari Jefferson
Reserves
- OL Trevor Duncan (left the team ahead of the season)
- DL Herb Gray
- WR Tommy Winton III
- DB Colin Brazzell
- WR Braylon Harmon
Other Departures
These players have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and are forgoing their remaining eligibility.
- CB Jermod McCoy
- WR Chris Brazzell II
- CB Colton Hood
- LB Arion Carter
These players are out of eligibility or went through senior day.
- DL Joshua Josephs
- QB Joey Aguilar
- DL Dominic Bailey
- DL Bryson Eason
- DL Tyre West
- DL Jaxson Moi
- DB Jalen McMurray
- TE Miles Kitselman
- DB Andre Turrentine
- RB Star Thomas
- DB William Wright
- OL Gus Hill
- OL Brian Grant
- DB Montrell Bandy
- TE Seamus Meagher
