2025/26 Transfer Portal Thread

[Cobb-Webb 1989]

We don’t get that money until the summer

Already, adidas is working to land NIL deals with Tennessee student-athletes during the 2025-2026 school year before the brand's partnership with UT officially commences in July. Once the partnership begins, every Tennessee student-athlete will be eligible to participate in adidas' wide-sweeping NIL Ambassador Network, which gives all student-athletes at adidas-partnered Division I schools the chance to benefit from their Name, Image and Likeness.

adidas, University of Tennessee Announce 10-Year Partnership Effective for the 2026-27 Season - University of Tennessee Athletics

The partnership will see two significant sports organizations joining together again to set a new agenda for college athletics.

utsports.com

 

[Type Orange+]

Who is “we”?

Are you involved in these decisions?

Quit using personal pronouns

Says you?

 

[Weezer]

Am I in the football forum?
View attachment 803535

Should have known a discussion about my stones would draw your attention.

 

[Pawleysvol]

Who is our edge rushers next year currently? Ross and ???

Gass

 

[KB5252]

Bargain bin shoppers.

Just like Indiana

 

[Souce]

Should have known a discussion about my stones would draw your attention.

 

[CamVol8]

Gass

My lord

 

[SoonerAndVol]

Today was travel day from Oklahoma back to Florida so have been out of loop.

As I wrote before staff saw House & Keaton Thomas as very similar players from style & ability standpoint. Staff has better connections to House through Inge that hopefully will pay dividends. Staff begin to suspect Keaton visit may not happen as it was moved from yesterday, to last night or Sunday, and then back and forth on whether he would be coming today or later in week.

It is the nature of the portal, most situations you are not dealing with kids or parents but agents or even secondary reps of an agent.

Was told Vols were aware DaKaari Nelson would entering portal before it was ever announced per an agent or affiliated source and was clear UT is one of his top potential destinations and early signs look very promising

On PSU guys they still feel good about AJ Harris. It sounds as if AJ's team is disappointed about where NIL offerings are coming in at and isn't in hurry wanting to see if money goes up. Also noted he is comfortable with defensive staff & took unofficial to UT so knows what to expect in Knoxville. They still expect visit to happen but there isn't urgency on Harris side right now.

Vols to take 6 DBs in portal if they are guys they want, also still feel very good about Elliot Washington, and thinks King Mack will land at UT also but chance may dip if Byard commits. On Xavier Gilliam they feel very good but acknowledge Indiana could be willing to make NIL offer UT isn't willing to match. Last is Coleman who falls in same category as Gilliam. They think they are in good position but LSU can pay more if they choose to do so

Sounds like Trick is heavy trend towards VOLs, and still working to set visits with many other players, including some plan B guys.

Contact said you have to understand that the portal is recruiting on crack and that UT is not in the 1st tier in portal money nor do they have a coach who is willing to handout a guaranteed spot to a kid. You have to be willing and/or able to do one or both of those things to be the guys immediately signing portal players. Keaton was offered both at Ole Miss which is why things changed so quickly. It will likely happen with a couple other targets as well

 

[HeuperDrive]

3 years ago, I never even thought about Indiana football.

In 2026, I now want nothing more than for them to crash and burn. Crazy how quickly things can change, but I’m getting sick of them already.

 

[Pawleysvol]

Today was travel day from Oklahoma back to Florida so have been out of loop.

As I wrote before staff saw House & Keaton Thomas as very similar players from style & ability standpoint. Staff has better connections to House through Inge that hopefully will pay dividends. Staff begin to suspect Keaton visit may not happen as it was moved from yesterday, to last night or Sunday, and then back and forth on whether he would be coming today or later in week.

It is the nature of the portal, most situations you are not dealing with kids or parents but agents or even secondary reps of an agent.

Was told Vols were aware DaKaari Nelson would entering portal before it was ever announced per an agent or affiliated source and was clear UT is one of his top potential destinations and early signs look very promising

On PSU guys they still feel good about AJ Harris. It sounds as if AJ's team is disappointed about where NIL offerings are coming in at and isn't in hurry wanting to see if money goes up. Also noted he is comfortable with defensive staff & took unofficial to UT so knows what to expect in Knoxville. They still expect visit to happen but there isn't urgency on Harris side right now.

Vols to take 6 DBs in portal if they are guys they want, also still feel very good about Elliot Washington, and thinks King Mack will land at UT also but chance may dip if Byard commits. On Xavier Gilliam they feel very good but acknowledge Indiana could be willing to make NIL offer UT isn't willing to match. Last is Coleman who falls in same category as Gilliam. They think they are in good position but LSU can pay more if they choose to do so

Sounds like Trick is heavy trend towards VOLs, and still working to set visits with many other players, including some plan B guys.

Contact said you have to understand that the portal is recruiting on crack and that UT is not in the 1st tier in portal money nor do they have a coach who is willing to handout a guaranteed spot to a kid. You have to be willing and/or able to do one or both of those things to be the guys immediately signing portal players. Keaton was offered both at Ole Miss which is why things changed so quickly. It will likely happen with a couple other targets as well

Good stuff., anything on Amare Campbell, the Penn St lb that entered the portal this afternoon?

 

[Jack Burton]

We aren’t aggressive enough to land the initial visits and lock these guys down

I’d like to see much more aggressiveness on the field AND in the portal.

 

[Checker_the_Shire]

Today was travel day from Oklahoma back to Florida so have been out of loop.

As I wrote before staff saw House & Keaton Thomas as very similar players from style & ability standpoint. Staff has better connections to House through Inge that hopefully will pay dividends. Staff begin to suspect Keaton visit may not happen as it was moved from yesterday, to last night or Sunday, and then back and forth on whether he would be coming today or later in week.

It is the nature of the portal, most situations you are not dealing with kids or parents but agents or even secondary reps of an agent.

Was told Vols were aware DaKaari Nelson would entering portal before it was ever announced per an agent or affiliated source and was clear UT is one of his top potential destinations and early signs look very promising

On PSU guys they still feel good about AJ Harris. It sounds as if AJ's team is disappointed about where NIL offerings are coming in at and isn't in hurry wanting to see if money goes up. Also noted he is comfortable with defensive staff & took unofficial to UT so knows what to expect in Knoxville. They still expect visit to happen but there isn't urgency on Harris side right now.

Vols to take 6 DBs in portal if they are guys they want, also still feel very good about Elliot Washington, and thinks King Mack will land at UT also but chance may dip if Byard commits. On Xavier Gilliam they feel very good but acknowledge Indiana could be willing to make NIL offer UT isn't willing to match. Last is Coleman who falls in same category as Gilliam. They think they are in good position but LSU can pay more if they choose to do so

Sounds like Trick is heavy trend towards VOLs, and still working to set visits with many other players, including some plan B guys.

Contact said you have to understand that the portal is recruiting on crack and that UT is not in the 1st tier in portal money nor do they have a coach who is willing to handout a guaranteed spot to a kid. You have to be willing and/or able to do one or both of those things to be the guys immediately signing portal players. Keaton was offered both at Ole Miss which is why things changed so quickly. It will likely happen with a couple other targets as well

Curious for this who can answer: what does it mean to not be “1st tier in portal money” yet we’re supposedly one of the top NIL program? Is this just a nice way of saying we’re cheap or what?

 

[AustinVol]

This turned into a lot of fun real quick.

 

[Sandman Vol]

Curious for this who can answer: what does it mean to not be “1st tier in portal money” yet we’re supposedly one of the top NIL program? Is this just a nice way of saying we’re cheap or what?

I would assume it means we’re spending more on high school recruits and retaining the current roster than trying to flip the roster through the portal.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Who is our edge rushers next year currently? Ross and ???

Dye, Gass, a few incoming freshmen. I’m more worried about d tackle and safety. Unless Ross portals, then we are screwed.

 

[Type Orange+]

Pays the house settlement, not NIL….

And I thought it was for revenue-sharing to directly pay student-athletes.
Huh. You learn something new every day.

 

[CamVol8]

Curious for this who can answer: what does it mean to not be “1st tier in portal money” yet we’re supposedly one of the top NIL program? Is this just a nice way of saying we’re cheap or what?

I have the same question

 

[knoxvol52]

 

[JacketVol]

no you volunteered to be the cuck tho

just because you like cuck and gamecocks doesn't mean I like you

 

[Legion of Doom]

I’d like to see much more aggressiveness on the field AND in the portal.

Totally agree. Can’t be passive like last year.

 

[swchandler1988]

Already, adidas is working to land NIL deals with Tennessee student-athletes during the 2025-2026 school year before the brand's partnership with UT officially commences in July. Once the partnership begins, every Tennessee student-athlete will be eligible to participate in adidas' wide-sweeping NIL Ambassador Network, which gives all student-athletes at adidas-partnered Division I schools the chance to benefit from their Name, Image and Likeness.

adidas, University of Tennessee Announce 10-Year Partnership Effective for the 2026-27 Season - University of Tennessee Athletics

The partnership will see two significant sports organizations joining together again to set a new agenda for college athletics.

utsports.com

Thank you for the corroborating article. Correct, July 2026 when the partnership officially begins

 

[CamVol8]

just because you like cuck and gamecocks doesn't mean I like you

english

 

[Dadof2Vols]

Same thing but it is fixed amount, every school has same and is not same as NIL

And I thought it was for revenue-sharing to directly pay student-athletes.
Huh. You learn something new every day.

 

[Weezer]

I would assume it means we’re spending more on high school recruits and retaining the current roster than trying to flip the roster through the portal.

All that NIL paid out to HS QBs has really worked out well so far, hasn't it?

 

[BatteredVolFan]

Today was travel day from Oklahoma back to Florida so have been out of loop.

As I wrote before staff saw House & Keaton Thomas as very similar players from style & ability standpoint. Staff has better connections to House through Inge that hopefully will pay dividends. Staff begin to suspect Keaton visit may not happen as it was moved from yesterday, to last night or Sunday, and then back and forth on whether he would be coming today or later in week.

It is the nature of the portal, most situations you are not dealing with kids or parents but agents or even secondary reps of an agent.

Was told Vols were aware DaKaari Nelson would entering portal before it was ever announced per an agent or affiliated source and was clear UT is one of his top potential destinations and early signs look very promising

On PSU guys they still feel good about AJ Harris. It sounds as if AJ's team is disappointed about where NIL offerings are coming in at and isn't in hurry wanting to see if money goes up. Also noted he is comfortable with defensive staff & took unofficial to UT so knows what to expect in Knoxville. They still expect visit to happen but there isn't urgency on Harris side right now.

Vols to take 6 DBs in portal if they are guys they want, also still feel very good about Elliot Washington, and thinks King Mack will land at UT also but chance may dip if Byard commits. On Xavier Gilliam they feel very good but acknowledge Indiana could be willing to make NIL offer UT isn't willing to match. Last is Coleman who falls in same category as Gilliam. They think they are in good position but LSU can pay more if they choose to do so

Sounds like Trick is heavy trend towards VOLs, and still working to set visits with many other players, including some plan B guys.

Contact said you have to understand that the portal is recruiting on crack and that UT is not in the 1st tier in portal money nor do they have a coach who is willing to handout a guaranteed spot to a kid. You have to be willing and/or able to do one or both of those things to be the guys immediately signing portal players. Keaton was offered both at Ole Miss which is why things changed so quickly. It will likely happen with a couple other targets as well

No mention of Campbell the LB from Penn St. I’ve seen we’re likely only taking 1 LB. If that’s the case, who do we choose out of House, Nelson, and Campbell?