KNOXVILLE, TN – August 06, 2025 – Wide receiver Amari Jefferson #81 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2025 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
This transfer portal cycle, Tennessee football lost 28 players to the transfer portal. There were some notable names, such as offensive tackle Lance Heard, edge rushers Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring and tight end Jack Van Dorselaer, but the majority were reserves who would’ve likely just provided depth in 2026.
As of Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, 26 of the 28 departures have committed to their new schools. The two that are yet to publicly announce a commitment are wide receiver Amari Jefferson and lineman Trevor Duncan.
Jefferson has three years of eligibility remaining after spending one season at Alabama before transferring to Tennessee last offseason. However, after missing his entire year with the Tide due to injury, Jefferson played just four offensive snaps across two games with the Vols.
Jefferson was also a major baseball recruit in high school. While he dropped the sport to focus on football in college, a return to the diamond could always be a possibility. So far, he has not indicated any decision besides the reports that he entered the transfer portal.
Duncan is a local product out of Knoxville Catholic. He played on the defensive line in 2023 before playing offensive line in 2024. However, before the 2025 season, he stepped away from football. Now he’s in the portal, but has yet to commit.
Despite the portal window being closed for entries, both Jefferson and Duncan can commit to whatever school of choice they may have at any time and be immediately eligible.
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Here is the full list of departures, ordered from first to enter to most recent:
DB Boo Carter (Colorado)
DL Jamal Wallace (Utah)
LEO Kellen Lindstrom (Missouri State)
LB Brenden Anes (Western Michigan)
DB Marcus Goree Jr. (Troy)
QB Jake Merklinger (UConn)
RB Peyton Lewis (Virginia)
OL Trevor Duncan
DE Herb Gray (UNLV)
OL Max Anderson (Kentucky)
WR Tommy Winton III (ETSU)
DB Colin Brazzell (Abilene Christian)
OL Bennett Warren (Minnesota)
OL Lance Heard (Kentucky)
WR Braylon Harmon (Austin Peay)
WR Amari Jefferson
CB Rickey Gibson III (Texas A&M)
LEO Caleb Herring (South Carolina)
LEO Emmanuel Okoye (Cal)
K Max Gilbert (Arkansas)
LEO Jayden Loftin (Wisconsin)
OL William Satterwhite (LSU)
OL Brian Grant (Memphis)
DT Josh Schell (UCF)
LEO Jordan Ross (LSU)
WR Trey Weary (ETSU)
S Kaleb Beasley (Louisville)
TE Jack Van Dorselaer (Oklahoma)