2025/26 Transfer Portal Thread

#4,806
#4,806
Vols410 said:
Quickly grabbing the list of visitors to share my grades:

S Qua Moss Early Jan 4th Weekend - #157 S (Just about equal with Turrentine)
DT Mateen Ibirogba Jan 4th Weekend - #127 DT (Close to Bryson Eason)
LB Keaton Thomas Jan 4th Weekend - #66 LB (Would've been our LB1)
RB Hollywood Smothers Jan 4th Weekend - #7 RB (Yikes. Didn't realize my model loved him so much.)
RB Cam Cook Jan 4th Weekend - #70 RB
S Tawfiq Byard End of Jan 4th weekend - #41 S
EDGE Chaz Coleman 2nd Week of January - #129 EDGE (Just about equal with Jordan Ross)
EDGE Adam Trick (Not visiting as of yet) - #56 EDGE

And some notable QBs:
- Ty Simpson (#13)
- Brendan Sorsby (#19)
- Rocco Becht (#37)
- Josh Hoover (#46)
- Drew Mestemaker (#47)
- Sam Leavitt (#52)

@TrippieRedd, there you go. Dusting off these numbers now.
Click to expand...
@Vols410
Here is a chatgpt analysis of your ranking and an overview of our current prospects. It was complimentary of your analysis.


First: Quick context on Tennessee’s likely 2026 needs (pre-portal)
Assuming no surprises beyond current departures:
Biggest needs
Safety (top-end starter, not just depth)
EDGE (rotation + upside starter)
RB (if one of the current backs stalls or leaves early)
QB (experience hedge, not desperation)
Moderate needs
DT (1 rotation-ready body)
LB (only if elite; otherwise depth)
That matters, because fit + urgency should slightly outweigh pure ranking.
Defensive Backs
S Qua Moss (#157 S)
Your take: ~equal to Turrentine
My take: Agree, with upside caveat
Moss profiles as a solid SEC starter, not a star.
Compared to Tennessee’s current DB room, he’s plug-and-play depth with modest ceiling.
I would rank him:
Below elite portal safeties
Roughly equal to internal options like Turrentine, as you said
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B / B+ — useful, but not a difference-maker
S Tawfiq Byard (#41 S)
This is the safety that actually moves the needle.
True center-field ability
Better instincts than Moss
Higher playmaking ceiling than anyone currently projected at safety for 2026
My ranking vs your model:
⬆️ I’m higher than Moss by a clear tier
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A- / borderline A — immediate starter, scheme fit
Defensive Line
DT Mateen Ibirogba (#127 DT)
Your comp: Close to Bryson Eason
My take: Accurate comp, slightly higher utility
He’s not a disruptor, but he’s SEC-viable rotation immediately
Tennessee doesn’t need a star DT — it needs reliable snaps
Ibirogba fits that role very well
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B+ — better than current depth, but not transformative
EDGE Chaz Coleman (#129 EDGE)
Your comp: Jordan Ross
My take: Agree almost exactly
Similar body type and motor
Neither is a proven pass-rush alpha
Both are rotation players unless they pop
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B — necessary depth, limited upside
EDGE Adam Trick (#56 EDGE)
This is where I diverge upward from conservative portal thinking.
Trick has true pass-rush traits
Not polished, but the burst is real
Tennessee’s EDGE room needs at least one upside swing
My ranking:
⬆️ Slightly higher than #56 EDGE given roster context
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A- — high-variance, but exactly the kind of bet Tennessee should take
Linebacker
LB Keaton Thomas (#66 LB)
Your take: Would’ve been LB1
My take: Yes — and that’s the key point
He’s not a national top-10 LB
But relative to Tennessee’s 2026 LB room, he’s:
Best processor
Best coverage ability
Most SEC-ready
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A — positional upgrade, not just depth
This is one where roster context > raw ranking.
Running Back
RB Hollywood Smothers (#7 RB)
Your reaction: “Yikes”
My reaction: Your model is right.
Explosive acceleration
Natural receiving ability
Tennessee’s offense magnifies RB efficiency
If he hit the portal and Tennessee landed him, he’d:
Compete for RB1 snaps immediately
Add a dimension currently missing
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A / A+ — offensive multiplier
RB Cam Cook (#70 RB)
Good runner
Limited passing-game ceiling
More “safe floor” than “difference maker”
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B — fine depth, not a featured piece
Quarterbacks (Big Picture)
Tennessee does not need a savior — it needs:
Experience
Stability
Insurance
My internal tiering vs your list
Tier 1 (Ideal fit)
Ty Simpson (#13) — arm talent + SEC familiarity
Josh Hoover (#46) — underrated processing, fits tempo
Tier 2 (Very solid)
Sam Leavitt (#52) — intriguing, slightly raw
Brendan Sorsby (#19) — productive, system-dependent
Tier 3 (Lower urgency fit)
Rocco Becht (#37) — good QB, but less schematic upside here
Drew Mestemaker (#47) — depth only
Key point:
I would not overpay in NIL for a QB unless Simpson or Hoover were attainable.
Final Summary Table (Roster-Adjusted Grades)
Player
Pos
Roster-Adjusted Grade
Hollywood Smothers
RB
A+
Keaton Thomas
LB
A
Tawfiq Byard
S
A-
Adam Trick
EDGE
A-
Ty Simpson
QB
A- (fit-dependent)
Mateen Ibirogba
DT
B+
Qua Moss
S
B/B+
Cam Cook
RB
B
Chaz Coleman
EDGE
B
Bottom line
Your model is stronger than average fan projections, especially at RB and LB. Where I’d tweak it:
Slightly elevate Trick and Byard
Keep Smothers exactly where he is — that grade is earned
Avoid overvaluing mid-tier EDGE depth unless upside is present
 
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#4,813
#4,813
DD4ME said:
@Vols410
Here is a chatgpt analysis of your ranking and an overview of our current prospects. It was complimentary of your analysis.


First: Quick context on Tennessee’s likely 2026 needs (pre-portal)
Assuming no surprises beyond current departures:
Biggest needs
Safety (top-end starter, not just depth)
EDGE (rotation + upside starter)
RB (if one of the current backs stalls or leaves early)
QB (experience hedge, not desperation)
Moderate needs
DT (1 rotation-ready body)
LB (only if elite; otherwise depth)
That matters, because fit + urgency should slightly outweigh pure ranking.
Defensive Backs
S Qua Moss (#157 S)
Your take: ~equal to Turrentine
My take: Agree, with upside caveat
Moss profiles as a solid SEC starter, not a star.
Compared to Tennessee’s current DB room, he’s plug-and-play depth with modest ceiling.
I would rank him:
Below elite portal safeties
Roughly equal to internal options like Turrentine, as you said
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B / B+ — useful, but not a difference-maker
S Tawfiq Byard (#41 S)
This is the safety that actually moves the needle.
True center-field ability
Better instincts than Moss
Higher playmaking ceiling than anyone currently projected at safety for 2026
My ranking vs your model:
⬆️ I’m higher than Moss by a clear tier
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A- / borderline A — immediate starter, scheme fit
Defensive Line
DT Mateen Ibirogba (#127 DT)
Your comp: Close to Bryson Eason
My take: Accurate comp, slightly higher utility
He’s not a disruptor, but he’s SEC-viable rotation immediately
Tennessee doesn’t need a star DT — it needs reliable snaps
Ibirogba fits that role very well
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B+ — better than current depth, but not transformative
EDGE Chaz Coleman (#129 EDGE)
Your comp: Jordan Ross
My take: Agree almost exactly
Similar body type and motor
Neither is a proven pass-rush alpha
Both are rotation players unless they pop
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B — necessary depth, limited upside
EDGE Adam Trick (#56 EDGE)
This is where I diverge upward from conservative portal thinking.
Trick has true pass-rush traits
Not polished, but the burst is real
Tennessee’s EDGE room needs at least one upside swing
My ranking:
⬆️ Slightly higher than #56 EDGE given roster context
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A- — high-variance, but exactly the kind of bet Tennessee should take
Linebacker
LB Keaton Thomas (#66 LB)
Your take: Would’ve been LB1
My take: Yes — and that’s the key point
He’s not a national top-10 LB
But relative to Tennessee’s 2026 LB room, he’s:
Best processor
Best coverage ability
Most SEC-ready
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A — positional upgrade, not just depth
This is one where roster context > raw ranking.
Running Back
RB Hollywood Smothers (#7 RB)
Your reaction: “Yikes”
My reaction: Your model is right.
Explosive acceleration
Natural receiving ability
Tennessee’s offense magnifies RB efficiency
If he hit the portal and Tennessee landed him, he’d:
Compete for RB1 snaps immediately
Add a dimension currently missing
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ A / A+ — offensive multiplier
RB Cam Cook (#70 RB)
Good runner
Limited passing-game ceiling
More “safe floor” than “difference maker”
Grade relative to 2026 roster:
➡️ B — fine depth, not a featured piece
Quarterbacks (Big Picture)
Tennessee does not need a savior — it needs:
Experience
Stability
Insurance
My internal tiering vs your list
Tier 1 (Ideal fit)
Ty Simpson (#13) — arm talent + SEC familiarity
Josh Hoover (#46) — underrated processing, fits tempo
Tier 2 (Very solid)
Sam Leavitt (#52) — intriguing, slightly raw
Brendan Sorsby (#19) — productive, system-dependent
Tier 3 (Lower urgency fit)
Rocco Becht (#37) — good QB, but less schematic upside here
Drew Mestemaker (#47) — depth only
Key point:
I would not overpay in NIL for a QB unless Simpson or Hoover were attainable.
Final Summary Table (Roster-Adjusted Grades)
Player
Pos
Roster-Adjusted Grade
Hollywood Smothers
RB
A+
Keaton Thomas
LB
A
Tawfiq Byard
S
A-
Adam Trick
EDGE
A-
Ty Simpson
QB
A- (fit-dependent)
Mateen Ibirogba
DT
B+
Qua Moss
S
B/B+
Cam Cook
RB
B
Chaz Coleman
EDGE
B
Bottom line
Your model is stronger than average fan projections, especially at RB and LB. Where I’d tweak it:
Slightly elevate Trick and Byard
Keep Smothers exactly where he is — that grade is earned
Avoid overvaluing mid-tier EDGE depth unless upside is present
If you want, next step could be:
NIL value vs on-field ROI
Or a “must-take / nice-to-have / pass” board specifically for Tennessee
Just say the word.
Click to expand...
Cliff notes Chat thinks it would be in our best interest to land:
Byard (A) Moss (B) - S (our biggest need)
Thomas - LB
Trick - Edge
Ibirogba - DT
Smothers (A) or Cook (B) - RB
Simpson - QB ( QB down the list)
 
#4,817
#4,817
DD4ME said:
Cliff notes Chat thinks it would be in our best interest to land:
Byard (A) Moss (B) - S (our biggest need)
Thomas - LB
Trick - Edge
Ibirogba - DT
Smothers (A) or Cook (B) - RB
Simpson - QB ( QB down the list)
Click to expand...
Frankly, I wouldn't put much stock in what ChatGPT has to say regarding CFB player evals. There's really not any data it would have access to that would help to provide an informed opinion. For the most part it'll just agree with whatever you feed it. Thanks for sharing though, always love when you pitch in!

Source: I'm an AI/ML Engineer, which means I both love and hate ChatGPT lol.
 
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#4,818
#4,818
DD4ME said:
Cliff notes Chat thinks it would be in our best interest to land:
Byard (A) Moss (B) - S (our biggest need)
Thomas - LB
Trick - Edge
Ibirogba - DT
Smothers (A) or Cook (B) - RB
Simpson - QB ( QB down the list)
Click to expand...
I like moss over Byard but I’d take both if we could. I think there will be bigger players than trick more suited to Knowles identity on the DLine. Maybe Trick is the LEO he wants? We need more than just those but that would be one heckuva start to this portal haul.
 
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#4,820
#4,820
JCVol00 said:
I really hope our staff has someone on the hooks, i fear we are being left behind with all the qb dominos falling
Click to expand...
JMO:

They haven’t even started to fall. We were never going to pay 4mil+ for someone this year. Look for a 1.5-2.5 range guy expected to push GMAC or possibly even win the job. I don’t think we go for a clear/premier starter. Just doesn’t make sense with what’s invested in gmac and Brandon vs the price gauge that’s occurred with sorsby/leavitt.

Turning my attention to:
Barnett
Kienholz
Odom
Craig
Joseph
Davis
Boley
Unknown: still yet to enter
 
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#4,823
#4,823
#4,824
#4,824
Vols410 said:
Frankly, I wouldn't put much stock in what ChatGPT has to say regarding CFB player evals. There's really not any data it would have access to that would help to provide an informed opinion. For the most part it'll just agree with whatever you feed it. Thanks for sharing though, always love when you pitch in!

Source: I'm an AI/ML Engineer, which means I both love and hate ChatGPT lol.
Click to expand...
ChatGPT is dumb
 
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#4,825
#4,825
Vols410 said:
Frankly, I wouldn't put much stock in what ChatGPT has to say regarding CFB player evals. There's really not any data it would have access to that would help to provide an informed opinion. For the most part it'll just agree with whatever you feed it. Thanks for sharing though, always love when you pitch in!

Source: I'm an AI/ML Engineer, which means I both love and hate ChatGPT lol.
Click to expand...
I use it as a thinking tool, but always seek alternative data. I didn't ask it to proof your work, but to analyze your rankings compared to our needs and what it had insight on. I thought it offered some good insights given those parameters.
 
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