2026 Vols Transfer Portal Thread

#1,205
#1,205
TheMookieMonster said:
This has been my primary worry. The idea that boosters are motivated to push the chips in for Barnes is exciting for sure, but it feels like “motivated” for our donors is not on the same playing field as other teams. I’m just not sure our donors have the money to foot the bill for a $15-$20 million roster, which sounds like what it will take to be competitive in an E8 game against a 1-seed.
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The Haslam's alone likely earn many multiples of that each year just from dividend income. They are the 31st richest family in the United States. Big Jim in particular loves basketball and loves Barnes. He's 95, still goes to games, and would love to see a title in Knoxville. He's been known to donate 30+ million to UT for a single year/project. He can easily afford to single-handedly fund NIL if he wanted to do it. I'm not saying he is donating that much, but we have boosters who can afford 15 million and it wouldn't impact them at all.
 
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#1,206
#1,206
Volpatine said:
I generally stay off the boards during the season bc it’s just too much. Who is Todd? I’m a relatively new member who joined during the Nico fiasco. My “source” is just a friend who is on the peripheral of the basketball program. He’s been right every time he’s talked to me in the past. I’m not trying to pull anyone’s leg. I have other things going on in my life than to mess with people on a message board 😂. I’m mostly here for football content as I genuinely enjoy the football portal and don’t know anything other than what I read.
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Legs are fine to pull. It’s fingers I’d be wary of.
 
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#1,209
#1,209
THIS IS NOT WHAT I THINK THEY WILL MAKE NEXT YEAR RATHER WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY MAKINF BEFORE ANY DEALS ARE REWORKED
Okay let me preface this by saying I have 0 inside information so this is based purely on what I’ve seen various people say and just my own opinion. True insiders feel free to flame this post if it blatantly wrong.

So as of 4/3/26 this is what I imagine our “salary cap” looks like:
Lundblade 2 million
Carey: 1-1.5 million
JP: 1 million
Phillips: 500k-750k
Brown: 500k-750k
Evans- 500k-750k
Boswell: 500k
Henderson:250k-500k

(Could be wrong but I believe international players Can not earn NIL money ATM)
Massaba: 0 dollars
Berg : 0 dollars

Ralph Scott: 500k-750k
Manny Green:500k-750k
Marquis Clark: 250k-500k
7.5 million-9.75 million

I’ve seen a few things saying out Budget is in the ballpark of 12-15 million. So assuming the mid point of both ranges (8.6 million spent and 13.5 million in budget) we have Around 5 million to play with for transfers and roster retention.

Again this is purely opinionated and more of just a way visualize what we’re working with
 
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#1,213
#1,213
Edixon2 said:
Okay let me preface this by saying I have 0 inside information so this is based purely on what I’ve seen various people say and just my own opinion. True insiders feel free to flame this post if it blatantly wrong.

So as of 4/3/26 this is what I imagine our “salary cap” looks like:
Lundblade 2 million
Carey: 1-1.5 million
JP: 1 million
Phillips: 500k-750k
Brown: 500k-750k
Evans- 500k-750k
Boswell: 500k
Henderson:250k-500k

(Could be wrong but I believe international players Can not earn NIL money ATM)
Massaba: 0 dollars
Berg : 0 dollars

Ralph Scott: 500k-750k
Manny Green:500k-750k
Marquis Clark: 250k-500k
7.5 million-9.75 million

I’ve seen a few things saying out Budget is in the ballpark of 12-15 million. So assuming the mid point of both ranges (8.6 million spent and 13.5 million in budget) we have Around 5 million to play with for transfers and roster retention.

Again this is purely opinionated and more of just a way visualize what we’re working with
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Carey is not getting as much or more than JP…
 
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#1,214
#1,214
DMcVol said:
Carey is not getting as much or more than JP…
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Not saying you are wrong but my logic is Roster retention is cheaper than the portal, and coming into the year Carey had a full season of SEC play while JP was coming off missing all of 24/25 with a leg injury. Plus most things I’ve seen is Carey is going to have to take a paycut to stay so I’m willigng to bet he’s making in the 7 digit range
 
#1,216
#1,216
Edixon2 said:
Not saying you are wrong but my logic is Roster retention is cheaper than the portal, and coming into the year Carey had a full season of SEC play while JP was coming off missing all of 24/25 with a leg injury. Plus most things I’ve seen is Carey is going to have to take a paycut to stay so I’m willigng to bet he’s making in the 7 digit range
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Paying Carey anywhere close to what you pay JP would be terrible roster budgeting…You don’t want JP to leave and you pay to keep him. Carey leaving is not a big deal…if he wants more than you’re offering, you let him go…
 
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#1,217
#1,217
DMcVol said:
Paying Carey more than JP would be terrible roster budgeting…You don’t want JP to leave and you pay to keep him. Carey leaving is not a big deal…if he wants more than you’re offering, you let him go…
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Oh I agree 100% I just think that as of right now he’s making around that price tag. For what it’s worth I don’t believe Carey will be back
 
#1,218
#1,218
Edixon2 said:
Okay let me preface this by saying I have 0 inside information so this is based purely on what I’ve seen various people say and just my own opinion. True insiders feel free to flame this post if it blatantly wrong.

So as of 4/3/26 this is what I imagine our “salary cap” looks like:
Lundblade 2 million
Carey: 1-1.5 million
JP: 1 million
Phillips: 500k-750k
Brown: 500k-750k
Evans- 500k-750k
Boswell: 500k
Henderson:250k-500k

(Could be wrong but I believe international players Can not earn NIL money ATM)
Massaba: 0 dollars
Berg : 0 dollars

Ralph Scott: 500k-750k
Manny Green:500k-750k
Marquis Clark: 250k-500k
7.5 million-9.75 million

I’ve seen a few things saying out Budget is in the ballpark of 12-15 million. So assuming the mid point of both ranges (8.6 million spent and 13.5 million in budget) we have Around 5 million to play with for transfers and roster retention.

Again this is purely opinionated and more of just a way visualize what we’re working with
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I'd guess Carey isn't getting near that much to return, there is next to no chance you're keeping JP for $1 mil, and someone else is going to outspend us for Evans at that price.
 
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#1,219
#1,219
Edixon2 said:
Oh I agree 100% I just think that as of right now he’s making around that price tag. For what it’s worth I don’t believe Carey will be back
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I think it was rumored Carey was in the $750-800k range when he committed last spring. Who knows how true that is.
 
#1,221
#1,221
VolArmy74 said:
The Haslam's alone likely earn many multiples of that each year just from dividend income. They are the 31st richest family in the United States. Big Jim in particular loves basketball and loves Barnes. He's 95, still goes to games, and would love to see a title in Knoxville. He's been known to donate 30+ million to UT for a single year/project. He can easily afford to single-handedly fund NIL if he wanted to do it. I'm not saying he is donating that much, but we have boosters who can afford 15 million and it wouldn't impact them at all.
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When he's done doing that for basketball, tell him we need another 30+ million for football as I'd like to put those arrogant leg humpers in their place for a few years.
 
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#1,222
#1,222
Pawleysvol said:
It can’t be much.
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This is a quick transcription of morning conversation. I’m not representing personal projections or analyzing likelihoods. Just sharing before I head into some meetings:

As of this morning every player has an understanding of role and their starting NIL number. Literally every non-walk-on has been given an overview of their role and an offer. It’s an opening move in a chess game. Offers convey priorities. April 7-15 will see substantial activity based on players not known to the public as portal entries currently. The predictions are that there will be better g movement and some great players available. Staff likes our guard lineup to bottom more than I would’ve expected. Current players with more sophisticated representation will probably make decisions more quickly than players riding the train. A game changer at 4/5 another scorer at 2/3 and an experienced pg are all in the consideration set since who leaves stays can change.
 
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#1,223
#1,223
Stoerner Fumbles said:
This is a quick transcription of morning conversation. I’m not representing personal projections or analyzing likelihoods. Just sharing before I head into some meetings:

As of this morning every player has an understanding of role and their starting NIL number. Literally every non-walk-on has been given an overview of their role and an offer. It’s an opening move in a chess game. Offers convey priorities. April 7-15 will see substantial activity based on players not known to the public as portal entries currently. The predictions are that there will be better g movement and some great players available. Staff likes our guard lineup to bottom more than I would’ve expected. Current players with more sophisticated representation will probably make decisions more quickly than players riding the train. A game changer at 4/5 another scorer at 2/3 and an experienced pg are all in the consideration set since who leaves stays can change.
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Thank you for the info! I hope that of those 3 priorities that an experienced pg is at the top of the list but I guess you could argue that all 3 of those are almost just as important if we really want to upgrade the roster.
 
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