Tennessee football has done a solid job in the transfer portal of building up its defense after a disappointing 2025 season. This has come on all three levels, including the defensive line.
However, after reportedly visiting Knoxville to see the Vols, Texas A&M defensive tackle Dealyn Evans has committed to Mississippi State instead, according to On3. His visit to UT was scheduled for this past Sunday, while he was in Starkville to see the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Evans just concluded his redshirt-freshman season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. He posted eight tackles this past season. That came in 13 games, including the playoff loss to Miami, all off the bench. In 141 total snaps, he earned a PFF grade of 59.2 on the year.
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As a high school recruit, Evans was considered one of the top defensive linemen in the 2024 class. 247 ranked him as the No. 76 overall recruit, No. 15 defensive lineman and No. 11 player out of Texas. He is from Longview, Texas, and played for Pine Tree High School.
Tennessee has landed one defensive tackle in the transfer portal so far. Penn State Xavier Gilliam committed to the Vols out of Happy Valley to follow his defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles. Tennessee also returns contributors Daevin Hobbs and Nathan Robinson. Second-year players include Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley. UT also brings in a group of true freshmen, including Dereon Albert, Darryl Rivers, JJ Finch and NicQuayvion Simmons.
Other defensive additions to the transfer class for the Vols include Kansas State safety Qua Moss, Auburn cornerback Kayin Lee, Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell, Penn State edge rusher Chaz Coleman, Penn State safety Dejuan Lane, Tulane edge rusher Jordan Norman and Michigan safety TJ Metcalf.
Other defensive tackles Tennessee has had its eye on in the portal include Francis Brewu out of Pitt and Walter Mathis Jr. out of LSU.
