2025/26 Transfer Portal Thread

[Orangeburst]

O RLY?

Auto Parts?

 

[DD4ME]

I respectfully disagree. What he did this season with as little time as he was here was amazing. Give him a defense that puts him in a position where he doesn't need to be superman and you might be surprised what he can do. I also think you need somebody that will take a few chances occasionally or the offense can be very stagnant. The guy showed up in late May and led the SEC in passing. I understand some of the bad but the good outweighed the bad by like 10-1 in my view. Plus the guy is a great representative and leader on the team.

We agree - sorry if I sounded negative. I am not.

 

[D-Vols]

Give me Joey back with over a year of experience in the system, a 30-40 ranked defense (instead of 90), a new s&c coach who works them hard and we’re in the 2026 playoffs with a playoff game in Neyland Stadium..

 

[DD4ME]

Wonder if this would be an interest.

 

[deatojl]

Unless it was on his brain impacting some ill advised throws i would say minimal. His issue never was pure accuracy it was always the decisions. He's got too much bad Bret Farve at times. He won't change that IMO. You live with it
It's also what makes him fun to watch.

I don't know if I totally agree with this. There were many times on the short, quick passes that the ball sailed high. Even the pass to Staley down by the goal line that was dropped against Illinois was high. Still should have been caught but it wasn't super accurate.

 

[hard in the paint]

Wonder if this would be an interest.

I hope so. Pendelton was doo doo.

 

[dmwvol12]

We agree - sorry if I sounded negative. I am not.

It's alright if we don't but I really, really like Joey if you can't tell? He's just such a great representative and what he did this year is amazing. I just think with a better defense and another year with Heupel he could do some record breaking things for us next year. I bet our returning receivers will be excited if he comes back also because they already have a year of chemistry with the guy.

 

[D-Vols]

I hope so. Pendelton was doo doo.

Someone had to play center and he stepped up.

 

[Vols410]

We need more safeties for sure

Yes please. #80 safety. Worth about 1 PPG over our current safeties.

 

[Carp]

Yes please. #80 safety. Worth about 1 PPG over our current safeties.

How do you make your rankings? Do you use PFF ratings?

 

[UTwild82]

Wonder if this would be an interest.

Would allow us to slide Pendleton back to guard.

 

[TechnoVol]

Here's what Grok thinks as of this morning.

As of January 5, 2026, Tennessee's transfer portal activity continues to accelerate on Day 4 of the window. No new commitments since Qua Moss yesterday, but multiple high-priority visits are wrapping up today, with decisions potentially imminent. Here's the freshest intel from the wire:

Key Updates (as of this morning)​

Category	Details
Commitments (In)	Still 1 total: Safety Qua Moss (Kansas State) – Committed Jan. 4; bolsters secondary with 58 tackles/1 INT in 2025. Immediate plug-and-play under Knowles.
Visits Wrapping/Recent	- DT Xavier Gilliam (Penn State): Visit concluded today; strong interest in adding trench depth.- RB Cam Cook (Jacksonville State): Visit today; 1,600+ rush yards/16 TDs in 2025 make him a prime depth add behind Bishop.- DL Mateen Ibirogba (Wake Forest): High-rated target; visit ongoing/in discussion.- QB Anthony Colandrea (Virginia): Visit scheduled mid-week; dual-threat upside for Heupel's system. Other QB targets like Sam Leavitt (ASU) and Josh Hoover (TCU) still in play, but no visits today.
Top Remaining Targets	- QB: Colandrea (visiting soon), Leavitt, Hoover – Urgent need with no veteran yet.- DL/EDGE: Gilliam, Ibirogba, Chaz Coleman – Focus on Knowles' rebuild.- Secondary: King Mack (Penn State) – Another Knowles pipeline option.- RB: Cook (visiting today); possibly others for rotation.- OL: Depth pieces emerging after losses. LB Keaton Thomas (Baylor) was on visit radar but no update today.
Recent Losses (Out)	- OL William Satterwhite (backup C): Entered portal late Jan. 4; 3 years left, exacerbates OL depth issues.- EDGE Caleb Herring: Plans to enter portal (reported today); rotational piece with upside.- K Max Gilbert: Signed with Arkansas (recent); struggled in 2025.- OL Bennett Warren: Signed with Minnesota Jan. 4. Total departures now ~15-17, heavy on OL/DB/EDGE.
Overall Status	Portal "running hot" today with visits; expect 1-2 commits soon (e.g., post-Gilliam/Cook decisions). NIL firepower and Knowles' connections (e.g., Penn State ties) are key. QB remains top priority—window has 11 days left, but momentum building after slow start.

The Vols are prioritizing defense and QB stability for a 2026 bounce-back. If anything breaks later today (e.g., Gilliam commit), let me know for a refresh—things move fast!

 

[swchandler1988]

Yes please. #80 safety. Worth about 1 PPG over our current safeties.

Can’t tell if serious or not.. but he’s #26 or #32 safety depending on the site. Same sites that had Hood as the #52 CB and McCoy as the #15 CB

 

[SmyrnaATLVolisback]

The defense was awful, but he also had brutal turnovers in critical moments that heavily contributed to three losses. He's too hot/cold to lead a team to the playoffs imo. He's going to lose a couple of games with his turnovers.

While I do agree that his turnovers came at terrible times and we need him to improve to have a great season if he returns, I wonder if we can limit them with another full year of development. We only got him late in the summer and spent most of the time teaching the scheme. Let’s see if he can limit turnovers and make better decisions with a year of development under JH.

 

[CAVPUT]

We gonna fumble the ball on this portal season?

Rhetorical?

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

 

[SmyrnaATLVolisback]

Let’s get many of these wrapped up today or tma….

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Rhetorical?

Metaphorical and punriffic at the least.

 

[2EastTnVols]

The defense was awful, but he also had brutal turnovers in critical moments that heavily contributed to three losses. He's too hot/cold to lead a team to the playoffs imo. He's going to lose a couple of games with his turnovers.

Joey is not without his faults but it's looking more and more like his returning is best case scenario for us.

 

[Type Orange+]

Some outlet commented on a symptom being sporadic pain & weakness in the arm. It would explain some throws that just didn't get where they were supposedly going and might explain him throwing some of the short passes like Joe Milton, trying to over-compensate. Theoretically (and I know I'm reaching here) after taking the hit on the scramble against Bama, it could have been the reason for the terrible throw on the 100 yd pick 6 going into the half. Not saying it was, just explaining why I was curious.

I saw this video a few days ago and the guy says some things that make sense. It's a fairly short video and won't take much of your time.

 

[Dudleys87]

They said Banks bungled it and it cost him his job.

So that means Garner has more pull than some think?

 

[Blake25p]

 

[deatojl]

While I do agree that his turnovers came at terrible times and we need him to improve to have a great season if he returns, I wonder if we can limit them with another full year of development. We only got him late in the summer and spent most of the time teaching the scheme. Let’s see if he can limit turnovers and make better decisions with a year of development under JH.

There also may be something to be said for feeling the pressure to score every possession due to defensive woes leading to taking more chances and, at times, forcing the issue a bit.

 

[Dudleys87]

Dabo using the portal say it aint so

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

He has a "Do Not Contact" tag and we just hired one of his coaches..... gonna let y'all do the math on this one