5 transfer portal additions that will define Tennessee football, including Dejuan Lane

Tennessee football brought in 21 transfers for the 2026 season, by far the largest transfer portal haul since coach Josh Heupel was hired in 2021.

The offense is filled mostly by players who have been with the program since signing with Tennessee out of high school but new faces will play critical roles on defense and special teams. The size of the transfer class overall reflects the many voids UT has to fill in the secondary, on the defensive line and in the kicking game.

Here are five transfers that could come to define the 2026 season for the Vols.

TJ Metcalf steps in for injured starter Edrees Farooq

UT's safety depth was stressed by a season-ending knee injury to starter Edrees Farooq on Aug. 14. While installing a complex defensive scheme that frequently uses three-safety formations, new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles now has to train a replacement for one of his best defensive backs. That's where Michigan transfer TJ Metcalf steps in.

Metcalf already figured to be an important contributor this season but he is now an even more essential piece of the secondary with Farooq sidelined. A starter for the past two seasons at Arkansas and Michigan, he's racked up 75 solo tackles and four interceptions over 26 games played. Metcalf was an All-Big Ten honorable mention last season, and the Vols need him playing at the same level again.

Dejuan Lane becomes new starter in UT secondary

Dejaun Lane, a 6-foot-2 and 215-pound transfer from Penn State, is in position to assume the starting role Farooq leaves behind largely because of his familiarity with Knowles' system. Farooq's absence creates added pressure for everyone else in the secondary and Lane, with his existing knowledge of the defense, will have to help shoulder the burden in an undermanned passing defense.

Lane has played in 29 games and made three starts while recording 32 solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and four passes defended with one interception. Lane played as a reserve during his time at Penn State but is now in line for the first starting role of his career.

Why UT needs Xavier Gilliam to help improve run defense

The Vols needed to restock the defensive line and Xavier Gilliam is an easy plug-and-play solution after following Knowles and his assistants from Penn State. And through preseason practices, Gilliam has drawn rave reviews from the staff.

The 6-2, 305-pound Gilliam played 409 snaps for the Nittany Lions in 2025 after redshirting his freshman season, and recorded two tackles for loss and 11 solo tackles. He will be counted upon to bolster the Vols' rushing defense, which allowed the fourth-most yards on the ground in the SEC last season.

How Cooper Ranvier can improve UT's kicking

Max Gilbert was a largely reliable placekicker for the Vols last season, connecting on 73.7% of his field goal attempts. But he missed a number of clutch kicks, including the potential game winner against Georgia. Gilbert transferred to Arkansas, who UT plays on Oct. 10, and Cooper Ranvier arrived in Knoxville to replace him after spending 2025 as the starter at Louisville.

Ranvier made 21 of 25 field goals (84%) in 2025 as a redshirt freshman, ranked fifth in the ACC. He was 40-of-42 on extra points. They can count on Ranvier to make the routine kicks but whether or not he's a true upgrade over Gilbert will be decided in high-pressure moments.

Jordan Norman comes from Tulane to bolster Vols pass rush

Three of UT's best pass rushers left for the NFL or transfer portal and Jordan Norman, an edge rusher from Tulane, transferred in to fill a need on the defensive line. The Vols defense recorded the fourth-most sacks in the SEC last season and will need Norman's help to replicate that production.

The 6-4, 265-pound Norman is taking a step up in competition this season, transferring to UT after spending the past three years at South Alabama and Tulane. The best season of his career came in 2025 with the Green Wave, when he logged eight tackles for loss and six sacks across 14 games.

Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 5 transfer portal additions that will define Tennessee football, including Dejuan Lane