Top remaining quarterbacks in transfer portal
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Tennessee is assembling its 2026 football roster following the 2025 season. The NCAA transfer portal opened Jan. 2 and will close Friday.
Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger entered the transfer portal after the 2025 campaign.
The Vols also had senior Joey Aguilar, freshman George MacIntyre and freshman Mason Phillips on roster for their quarterback unit at the conclusion of the 2025 season.
The early signing period was held Dec. 3-5, 2025. Quarterback Faizon Brandon signed with Tennessee from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“Faizon’s a great player,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said during the early signing period. “We had an opportunity to watch him on the basketball court, extremely explosive, great touch, had great presence, and you know, bodies in motion. You see that on the football tape, obviously, as well. He’s played at an elite level for a long time. His body continued to develop. He’s got a great mind. He’s extremely quick minded.
“You combine all those factors, really excited about having him in the quarterback room and competing next fall. Anytime you’re able to get a quarterback at that level and is made of the right things, he’s able to develop relationships with guys and help attract them, and he certainly did that in this recruiting class, really on both sides of the football.”
Aguilar joined Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s lawsuit to separate JUCO and NCAA eligibility.
On Sunday, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports provided an update on the Tennessee quarterback’s future with the Vols and his attempt in receiving additional eligibility.
“While a waiver is still being pursued and there’s nothing final yet, it’s currently viewed as unlikely that Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar will be granted an additional year of eligibility, sources tell CBS Sports,” Zenitz announced.
On Monday, Vols Wire looks at the top available quarterbacks in the transfer portal, based on rankings from On3.
Top available quarterbacks in transfer portal
| Quarterback | Former school |
| Husan Longstreet | USC |
| Ethan Grunkemeyer | Penn State |
| Beau Pribula | Missouri |
| Walker Eget | San Jose State |
| Eli Holstein | Pittsburgh |
| Jake Merklinger | Tennessee |
| Nicco Marchiol | West Virginia |
| Austin Novosad | Oregon |
| Grayson Wilson | Arkansas |
| Jackson Kollock | Minnesota |
| Jadyn Davis | Michigan |
| EJ Colson | Incarnate Word |
| Air Noland | South Carolina |
| Taron Dickens | Western Carolina |
| Colin Hurley | LSU |
Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Top quarterbacks who are available in NCAA transfer portal
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos