Not only did Tennessee just put together a strong 2026 recruiting class, but they also crushed it in the Transfer Portal. Tennessee added several talented players, including former Penn State defensive linemen Chaz Coleman and Xavier Gilliam, who both have a ton of upside.
Tennessee insider's Chaz Coleman update is major relief for Vols fans
Now the Vols are getting even more positive news about their portal haul. In the newest 247Sports transfer rankings update, linebacker Amare Campbell jumped from an 87 to a four-star 91 grade, while Kayin Lee also earned a four-star bump, moving from an 88 to a 90. The Vols overall haul now sits at No. 11 in the recruiting rankings.
Two Tennessee football transfers bumped to four-star status in 247Sports portal rankings update ⤵️ https://t.co/i3ECvMgFzs
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) May 21, 2026
Tennessee just got two more four-stars
This is awesome news for the Tennessee football team because the portal class somehow looks even better now. It also shows that Jim Knowles has done a really strong job bringing legitimate talent into this defense.
One player I’ve personally loved as an addition is Kayin Lee. Tennessee is not just getting an experienced player who appeared in 36 games at Auburn, but they’re getting someone who has actually produced. Lee has totaled 81 tackles, 17 pass breakups, and three interceptions during his career, which is really solid production in the SEC.
Not only has Kayin Lee produced in the SEC, but he also feels like a perfect fit for Jim Knowles’ defense. He’s a physical press-man corner who is comfortable getting up at the line and disrupting receivers right away. I honestly love the fit. Pairing Lee with Ty Redmond gives the Tennessee two corners who can really hold things down on the outside, and with a completely revamped safety room, Tennessee could have a sneaky one of the best secondaries in the SEC. Worst case with Lee, he is a high-floor average starter, and best case, he's obviously an All-SEC type of player.
Meanwhile, Amare Campbell walks into a linebacker room for Tennessee that honestly has a chance to be one of the best in the SEC. Tennessee suddenly has a ton of depth there, and Campbell could end up being one of the biggest additions from the portal. What makes the fit even better is that he already knows the scheme and has proven he can succeed in it. Last season, Campbell was one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the country, and he consistently played well in big games, too.
It's no secret that the Vols weren't great against the run last year, and Campbell will help with that mightily. The Vols ranked 13th in the SEC in yards allowed per game, beating only their bottom feeders, Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi State. Tennessee needs to be better here. It's nearly impossible to win games when you're getting the ball run all over you.
When the dust settles, Tennessee could end up having one of the best transfer portal hauls in the country when people look back at it in December. Jim Knowles now has plenty of new pieces to take Tennessee’s defense to the next level, and Vols fans should be very excited about the potential of this unit.
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