Tennessee football ranked top 25 for 2026 transfer portal classes
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The NCAA transfer portal window was held Jan. 2 through Jan. 16. Student-athletes could only enter the NCAA transfer portal during this period, but can still sign with a school at any point since they are in the transfer portal.
On Friday, Craig Haubert of ESPN released college football’s top 25 transfer portal classes from the 2026 cycle.
Tennessee is ranked No. 20.
Other SEC schools ranked are LSU (1), Texas (4), Ole Miss (7), Kentucky (8), Texas A&M (10), Auburn (11), South Carolina (21), Georgia (22), Alabama (23), Oklahoma (24) and Missouri (25).
After Tennessee hiring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Penn State following the 2025 season, the Vols signed four Nittany Lion defensive transfers: defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell, defensive lineman Chaz Coleman and safety Dejuan Lane.
“After fielding one of the SEC’s worst defenses in 2025, Tennessee hired ex-Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to rebuild the unit,” Haubert said. “He’ll lean on several players who know his system well.
“The Volunteers added Penn State defensive transfers at all three levels, led by freshman edge rusher Chaz Coleman. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder has some of the highest upside of any transfer in the country with an envious blend of power, speed and fluidity, though he’s still developing physically. The other former Nittany Lions added are linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam. Cornerback Kayin Lee jumps over from Auburn, and although he has good speed and length, it’s his physicality that stands out.”
2026 Tennessee football transfer portal tracker
| Player | Position | Status |
| Boo Carter | S | Outgoing (Colorado) |
| Jamal Wallace | DL | Outgoing (Utah) |
| Kellen Lindstrom | DL | Outgoing (Missouri State) |
| Brenden Anes | LB | Outgoing (Western Michigan) |
| Marcus Goree Jr. | CB | Outgoing (Troy) |
| Jake Merklinger | QB | Outgoing (UConn) |
| Peyton Lewis | RB | Outgoing (Virginia) |
| Trevor Duncan | OL | Outgoing |
| Herb Gray | DL | Outgoing (UNLV) |
| Max Anderson | OL | Outgoing (Kentucky) |
| Tommy Winton III | WR | Outgoing (ETSU) |
| Colin Brazzell | CB | Outgoing (Abilene Christian) |
| Bennett Warren | OL | Outgoing (Minnesota) |
| Lance Heard | OL | Outgoing (Kentucky) |
| Braylon Harmon | WR | Outgoing (Austin Peay) |
| Amari Jefferson | WR | Outgoing |
| Rickey Gibson III | CB | Outgoing (Texas A&M) |
| Caleb Herring | DL | Outgoing (South Carolina) |
| Emmanuel Okoye | DL | Outgoing (California) |
| Max Gilbert | K | Outgoing (Arkansas) |
| Jayden Loftin | DL | Outgoing (Wisconsin) |
| Qua Moss | S | Incoming (Kansas State) |
| William Satterwhite | OL | Outgoing (LSU) |
| Brian Grant | OL | Outgoing (Memphis) |
| Ory Williams | OL | Incoming (LSU) |
| Josh Schell | DL | Outgoing (UCF) |
| Jordan Ross | DL | Outgoing (LSU) |
| Kayin Lee | CB | Incoming (Auburn) |
| Xavier Gilliam | DL | Incoming (Penn State) |
| Cooper Ranvier | K | Incoming (Louisville) |
| Amare Campbell | LB | Incoming (Penn State) |
| Chaz Coleman | DL | Incoming (Penn State) |
| Dejuan Lane | S | Incoming (Penn State) |
| Gavin Freeman | WR | Incoming (Oklahoma State), outgoing (Baylor) |
| Jordan Norman | DL | Incoming (Tulane) |
| Kaleb Beasley | DB | Outgoing (Louisville) |
| TJ Metcalf | S | Incoming (Michigan) |
| Jack Van Dorselaer | TE | Outgoing (Oklahoma) |
| Arion Carter | LB | Outgoing (Tennessee) |
| Donovan Haslam | OL | Incoming (West Virginia) |
| Tevis Metcalf | CB | Incoming (Michigan) |
| Trent Thomas | TE | Incoming (South Alabama) |
| Javin Gordon | RB | Incoming (Tulane) |
| DJ Burks | S | Incoming (Appalachian State) |
| Blake Howard | LS | Incoming (Eastern Kentucky) |
| Isaiah Hardge | CB/WR | Incoming (Colorado) |
| Ryan Staub | QB | Incoming (Colorado) |
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Where Vols rank for top 25 2026 transfer portal football classes
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