Tennessee football transfer portal tracker for Josh Heupel, 2026 roster

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Tennessee football transfer portal tracker for Josh Heupel, 2026 roster

Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel · Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Fri, Jan 2, 2026 ·

16 min read

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Tennessee football added 20 players and lost 22 scholarship players via the transfer portal, so let's look at the list.

The portal closed on Jan. 16 to new players entering it. Teams can still take players already in the portal after that window, so UT continues to look to add perhaps one more.

The Vols had numerous needs after posting an 8-5 record with a 30-28 loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. And the hiring of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles called for new defensive players to fit his system.

Here are the Tennessee players who entered the portal and new players added to bolster the 2026 roster.

Who Tennessee football is adding from transfer portal

DB Jadais Richard (from Miami)

Jadais Richard committed to Tennessee on Jan. 25. He played one season at Vanderbilt and three seasons at Miami, including a 2025 redshirt. Richard has played 36 games with eight starts in his career. His best season was 2024, when he had 27 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in more than 400 snaps on defense before suffering a season-ending injury.

WR Ian Duarte (from Idaho State)

Ian Duarte committed to Tennessee on Jan. 25. The 5-10, 176-pounder was a productive receiver and returner at the FCS level. In the past two seasons, he had 93 catches for 1,025 yards and six TDs at Idaho State. In 2025, he had 355 yards combined as a kick returner and punt returner.

QB Ryan Staub (from Colorado)

Ryan Staub committed to Tennessee on Jan. 18. He is 6-1, 200-pounder from Stevenson Ranch, California. He played 12 games with two starts over three seasons at Colorado, including a redshirt year. Staub has two seasons of eligibility remaining. In 2025, he completed 30 of 55 passes for 427 yards, three TDs and four interceptions. He also rushed for one TD.

DB Isaiah Hardge (from Colorado)

Isaiah Hardge committed to Tennessee on Jan. 18. The 5-10, 165-pounder spent three seasons at Colorado, including a redshirt year. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Hardge mostly played special teams over 23 games. In 2025, he made 15 tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one fumble recovery. He likely will get reps as a backup nickelback at Tennessee.

S DJ Burks (from Appalachian State)

DJ Burks announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 17. He is a very experienced safety, playing 40 games and making 133 tackles and four interceptions in his career. In the 2025 season, Burks had 73 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups.

TE Trent Thomas (from South Alabama)

Trent Thomas announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 17. In the past two seasons at South Alabama, he caught five passes for 39 yards. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. The 6-5, 254-pounder could be used as a blocking tight end for Tennessee.

RB Javin Gordon (from Tulane)

Javin Gordon announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 17. In the 2025 season, he rushed for 516 yards and five TDs and caught 13 passes as a redshirt freshman. Gordon, a 5-10, 200-pounder, has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

OL Donovan Haslam (from West Virginia)

Donovan Haslam committed to Tennessee on Jan. 17. He spent his first three years at Austin Peay and was a part-time starter at West Virginia in 2025. He has one season of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-3, 346-pounder played 11 games, including five starts, at West Virginia. He logged 486 snaps, including 444 on offense, according to Pro Football Focus .

DB TJ Metcalf (from Michigan)

It was reported on Jan. 13 that TJ Metcalf will transfer to Tennessee. Metcalf was a starter at Arkansas and Michigan with 37 career games over three seasons. He has one season of eligibility remaining. In 2025, Metcalf had 58 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception and one fumble recovery at Michigan, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. He can play safety and nickelback, and UT has a need at both positions.

CB Tevis Metcalf (from Michigan)

Tevis Metcalf announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 17. He is the younger brother of TJ Metcalf, who previously committed to the Vols. The younger Metcalf played three games at Michigan in 2025, recording one tackle and forcing a fumble. He played 12 games at Arkansas in 2024, making one tackle. Most of his playing time has come on special teams.

EDGE Jordan Norman (from Tulane)

Jordan Norman announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 12. The 6-4, 249-pounder two seasons of eligibility remaining. He spent two seasons at South Alabama, including a redshirt year. In 2025, he transferred to Tulane, where he had 28 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss and six sacks in the 2025 season. That included four tackles in Tulane's loss to Ole Miss in a College Football Playoff game.

S Dejuan Lane (from Penn State)

Dejuan Lane announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 10. He has played 29 games and two starts in only two seasons. In 2025, Lane had 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack in 13 games. In 2024, he had 15 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups in 16 games. The 6-2, 212-pounder has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

EDGE Chaz Coleman (from Penn State)

Chaz Coleman announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 10. He was a five-star transfer and the No. 1 edge rusher in the portal , according to 247Sports . Coleman played nine games as a freshman but was limited by injuries late in the season. He had eight tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The 6-4, 240-pounder drew exceptional grades from Pro Football Focus as a pass rusher. In 70 pass plays, he recorded 15 quarterback pressures.

LB Amare Campbell (from Penn State)

Amare Campbell announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 9. He led Penn State with 103 tackles and 769 defensive snaps in the 2025 season, along with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, four quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. He played two seasons at North Carolina and one season at Penn State, combining for 37 games with 27 starts. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

DT Xavier Gilliam (from Penn State)

Xavier Gilliam announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 8. He is a is a 6-2, 300-pounder who played 17 games over two seasons at Penn State. In 2024, Gilliam played four games and took a redshirt. In 2025, he had 16 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack and forced fumble in 13 games, including two starts. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Gilliam was a four-star transfer and ranked as the No. 3 defensive lineman in the portal by 247Sports .

PK Cooper Ranvier (from Louisville)

Cooper Ranvier announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 8. He made 21 of 25 field goals (84%) in the 2025 season as a redshirt freshman, ranked fifth in the ACC. He was 40-of-42 on PAT kicks and scored 102 points, fourth-most in the ACC. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

CB Kayin Lee (from Auburn)

Kayin Lee announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 7. He is experienced in the SEC with 36 games played and 25 starts over the past three seasons. He has 82 tackles and three interceptions in his career with one season of eligibility remaining. The 5-11, 180-pounder was a four-star recruit out of high school in the 2023 class. And he was ranked the No. 8 cornerback in the portal, according to 247Sports .

DB Qua Moss (from Kansas State )

Qua Moss announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 4. The 5-10, 185-pounder can play nickelback or safety. He had 41 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, a sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble in his lone season at Kansas State. He started his career at Dodge Community College before transferring to West Georgia and then Kansas State. Moss is ranked the No. 27 safety in the transfer portal by 247Sports.

OT Ory Williams (from LSU)

Ory Williams announced his commitment to Tennessee on Jan. 6. The 6-foot-8, 335-pound Williams is an enormous offensive lineman with a big upside. He played one game in 2024 and took a redshirt. He played 12 games and made two starts as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

LS Blake Howard (from Eastern Kentucky)

Howard committed to Tennessee on Jan. 8. The 6-2, 225-pounder mostly played special teams for Eastern Kentucky, serving as the primary long snapper in the 2025 season. He started his career at ETSU.

Who is leaving Tennessee football via transfer portal

TE Jack Van Dorselaer (Oklahoma)

Jack Van Dorselaer transferred from Tennessee to Oklahoma. He had five receptions for 23 yards and one TD, and he served as a blocker in the run game as a freshman. Van Dorselaer played all 13 games, logging 186 snaps on offense and 207 snaps on special teams. He is a 6-5, 236-pounder from Southlake, Texas. He was a four-star recruit and ranked the No. 18 tight end in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports Composite. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

QB Jake Merklinger (UConn)

Jake Merklinger transferred from Tennessee to UConn. He played six games over two seasons and went 19-of-33 passing for 221 yards and two TDs. As a redshirt freshman in 2025, Merklinger competed for the starting job but lost to Joey Aguilar. Merklinger, a native of Savannah, Georgia, was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

EDGE Caleb Herring (South Carolina)

Caleb Herring transferred from Tennessee to South Carolina. He played 36 games over three seasons after beginning his career as the No. 1 recruit in the state in Tennessee in the 2023 class. He had 25 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, five sacks and one forced fumble in his UT career. Herring, a 6-5, 245-pounder, has one season of eligibility remaining.

DB/PR Boo Carter (Colorado)

Boo Carter transferred from Tennessee to Colorado following his dismissal from the UT team in November. In 2025, he played nine games as a backup nickelback and primary punt returner. He had 25 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, along with three forced fumbles. He also has 11 punt returns for 145 yards. In 2024, Carter earned SEC All-Freshman honors as a defensive back and return specialist, and he was a 2025 preseason All-SEC selection.

DL Jamal Wallace (Utah)

Jamal Wallace transferred from Tennessee to Utah. He came to Tennessee in 2024 as a junior college transfer. The 6-3, 313-pounder was plagued by injuries in the 2024 season, played only three games and took a redshirt. He played six games and made four tackles in the 2025 season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

OT Lance Heard (Kentucky)

Lance Heard transferred from Tennessee to Kentucky. The All-SEC performer started all 13 games at left tackle and allowed only two sacks in 887 snaps. Heard, a 6-6, 330 pounder, was considered a potential 2026 NFL Draft prospect. But he instead will utilize his final season of college eligibility. Heard was a five-star prospect out of high school. He played the 2023 season at LSU and then transferred to Tennessee. He started 23 games at left tackle over the past two seasons.

EDGE Jordan Ross (LSU)

Jordan Ross transferred from Tennessee to LSU, joining former Vols coach Lane Kiffin. The former five-star recruit was projected as UT's starting edge rusher in the 2026 season. Ross is a 6-5, 245-pounder who was ranked the No. 3 edge rusher in the 2024 class. He had 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery in 11 games in 2025. He earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2024.

OL William Satterwhite (LSU)

William Satterwhite transferred from Tennessee to LSU. He played 11 games over two seasons, including a redshirt year. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Satterwhite is a 6-5, 305-pounder from Akron, Ohio. He was a four-star recruit and ranked the No. 12 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class by 247Sports Composite.

CB Rickey Gibson (Texas A&M)

Rickey Gibson transferred from Tennessee to Texas A&M. He suffered a season-ending upper-body injury in a Week 1 win over Syracuse. Gibson has played 26 games with 13 starts. He has recorded 42 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, six passes breakups and one forced fumble. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

RB Peyton Lewis (Virginia)

Peyton Lewis transferred from Tennessee to Virginia, returning to his home state. Lewis was in the backfield rotation for two seasons at Tennessee, rushing for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns in 23 games.

PK Max Gilbert (Arkansas)

Max Gilbert transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas. He has been an accurate kicker for the Vols, making all 118 PAT kicks and 34 of 45 field goals over two seasons. His 75.6% on field goals is third best in UT history for kickers who have made at least 25 field goals. But he missed a few kicks in key moments. Gilbert has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

OT Bennett Warren (Minnesota)

Bennett Warren transferred from Tennessee to Minnesota. He played 18 games over two seasons, including all 13 games in 2025. Most of his snaps came on special teams. Warren is a 6-7, 325-pounder from Houston. He was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class, ranked No. 11 among offensive tackles by 247Sports Composite .

DL Jayden Loftin (Wisconsin)

Jayden Loftin transferred from Tennessee to Wisconsin. The 6-4, 255-pounder was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class. As a freshman, he appeared in one game and did not record a tackle. Loftin took a redshirt, so he has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

OL Max Anderson (Kentucky)

Max Anderson transferred from Tennessee to Kentucky. The redshirt freshman played 15 games over two seasons for the Vols. That included all 13 games in 2025, mostly on special teams. The 6-5, 311-pounder was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

DL Josh Schell (UCF)

Josh Schell transferred from Tennessee to UCF. He had a short stint at Tennessee after transferring from Grand Valley State in April. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season. Schell, a 6-4, 265-pounder, spent three seasons at Grand Valley State, including a redshirt year. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

DB Kaleb Beasley (Louisville)

Kaleb Beasley transferred from Tennessee to Louisville. He played 26 games over two seasons at Tennessee, mostly on special teams and occasionally at safety. He made 24 tackles and returned a fumble for a TD in 2025. The former four-star recruit from Nashville has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

OL Brian Grant (Memphis)

Brian Grant transferred from Tennessee to Memphis. He played in 28 games over four seasons, including a redshirt year, mostly serving on special teams. He was a three-star recruit in the 2022 class. The 6-7, 325-pounder has one season of eligibility remaining.

EDGE Emmanuel Okoye (Cal)

Emmanuel Okoye transferred from Tennessee to Cal. He was a freakishly athletic 6-5, 243-pounder from Nigeria who was discovered at London's NFL Academy in 2023. Okoye played eight games and made one tackle in his career, all during the 2025 season. He took a redshirt in 2023 and missed the 2024 season with an injury.

DB Marcus Goree (Troy)

Marcus Goree transferred from Tennessee to Troy. The redshirt freshman played two games in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, mostly on special teams. He recorded two tackles for the Vols. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

DE Kellen Lindstrom (Missouri State)

Kellen Lindstrom transferred from Tennessee to Missouri State. The 6-5, 240-pounder, will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. In 2024, Lindstrom played three games, made four tackles and took a redshirt. In 2025, he played three games and made two tackles.

LB Brenden Anes (Western Michigan)

Brenden Anes transferred from Tennessee to Western Michigan. He played 12 games in the 2025 season, mostly on special teams. He made five tackles. The Nolensville, Tennessee native was a three-star prospect in the 2025 signing class.

WR Amari Jefferson

On Jan. 1, it was reported that Amari Jefferson plans to enter the portal. He was the 2023 Mr. Football in Division II-AAA at Baylor School. As a four-star recruit, he was one of Tennessee's top high school prospects in the 2024 class. He spent one season each at Alabama and Tennessee but didn't pan out at either. He played two games and four snaps total in 2025, and he has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

DL Trevor Duncan

Trevor Duncan announced on Dec. 23 that he plans to enter the portal. Earlier in 2025, he retired from football due to medical reasons after spending two seasons at Tennessee and playing sparingly. But he has now decided to restart his career. Duncan, a 6-6, 285-pounder, has played on the offensive and defensive lines.

WR Tommy Winton, walk-on (ETSU)

Tommy Winton transferred from Tennessee back to ETSU. He is a walk-on who started his career at ETSU. The 5-10, 200-pounder had three receptions for 26 yards and played four games in the 2025 season. And he played 12 games in the 2024 season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

WR Trey Weary, walk-on (ETSU)

Trey Weary transferred from Tennessee to ETSU. The walk-on had four catches for 24 yards over the past two seasons. He redshirted in 2022 and played one game in 2023. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

DL Herb Gray, walk-on (UNLV)

Herb Gray transferred from Tennessee to UNLV. The 6-3, 288-pound walk-on redshirted in 2024 and played two games in 2025, making a tackle-for-loss.

WR Braylon Harmon, walk-on (Austin Peay)

Braylon Harmon transferred from Tennessee to Austin Peay. He is a walk-on with three seasons of eligibility remaining. Harmon, a 5-9, 185-pounder, played six games over two seasons. He had a 41-yard reception against UAB in 2025. And he returned a punt for six yards against Kent State in 2024.

DB Colin Brazzell, walk-on (Abilene Christian)

Colin Brazzell transferred from Tennessee to Abilene Christian. He is a walk-on and the younger brother of UT wide receiver Chris Brazzell, a 2025 All-SEC performer who declared for the NFL draft. The younger Brazzell played three games over two season. The 6-1, 175-pounder has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football transfer portal live tracker for 2026 roster

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