As Tennessee continues to navigate through the transfer portal, it looks like a pair of former Alabama players have landed on Josh Heupel’s radar. According to a report from 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Wednesday, Tennessee is one of five teams that appear set to host former Crimson Tide defensive lineman James Smith and former Alabama EDGE rusher Qua Russaw in the near future.
The other reported visits include Ohio State, Missouri, Georgia, and LSU.
Here’s a look at both players and where Tennessee currently stands at each position:
Ex-Alabama DL James Smith
Smith, a 6-foot-3 defensive lineman from Montgomery, AL, was a five-star player in the 2023 recruiting class. As a transfer portal prospect, he’s listed as a four-star lineman in 247Sports’ portal rankings, coming in as the No. 8 overall player in the portal and the top-ranked defensive lineman.
Smith has been with the Crimson Tide for the past three seasons but saw a ramped-up role in each of the last two seasons. In his three years in Tuscaloosa, Smith has played in 27 games and started 12, which all came during the Tide’s 2025 campaign. He’s racked up a minimum of 20 total tackles in the last two seasons, with a career-high 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks this past year.
With 400 snaps during the 2025 season, Smith has proven to be a workhorse in the trenches. That’s the exact type of player that Tennessee is looking for in the portal. The Vols could use some help on the defensive line with expired eligibility and portal departures this offseason, and Smith fits that role. Obviously, though, there will be plenty of competition for his services.
As far as Tennessee’s defensive line goes, the Vols appear set to return Daevin Hobbs and Nathan Robinson, along with rising sophomore Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley. Tennessee will also bring in four defensive lineman through the 2026 signing class, with Dereon Albert, Darryl Rivers, JJ Finch and NicQuayvion Simmons. The Vols are also in the mix former former Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam and Pitt defensive lineman Francis Brewu from the transfer portal.
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Ex-Alabama EDGE Qua Russaw
Russaw and Smith have an extended history. They were both teammates at Carver High School in Montgomery and highly-touted prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. Russaw was a four-star prospect on the high school scene, and 247Sports has him listed as a four-star portal prospect this cycle. He’s also listed as the No. 47 overall prospect and the No. 9 EDGE rusher in the transfer class.
Russaw didn’t see any action during his first year with Alabama, earning him a redshirt, but took a bigger role during the 2024 season. He played in all 13 of the Crimson Tide’s games, racking up 36 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. Russaw played in nine games during the Tide’s 2025 season, but was sidelined for a large chunk of action in the middle of the season with a broken foot. Ultimately, he finished the year with 14 tackles and one sack. Russaw was injured for the Tide’s win over Tennessee in Tuscaloosa in October.
Russaw is an incredibly dynamic player with a knack for making plays on the defensive side of the ball. And considering what Tennessee has lost from the EDGE position this offseason, he would be a welcome addition for Jim Knowles’ first defensive roster in Knoxville. Tennessee starting EDGE rusher Joshua Josephs is off the NFL, but the Vols have now seen Caleb Herring and Jordan Ross both depart for the portal in recent days. That leaves a void for Tennessee to fill. The Vols have reportedly been in the mix for star Penn State EDGE rusher Chaz Coleman, who has familiarity with Knowles, but Russaw would also be a prime target to fill the need on the Vols’ line.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football portal coverage.
