Tennessee football: Five biggest reasons for excitement over Vols 2020 offseason

3. Transfers coming who could immediately help

A big plus for Tennessee football is the fact that they offset so many of their key losses with key transfers. Now, we can’t say for sure how well these transfers will work out, but the fact of the matter is they should be a big deal on paper. We’re looking at graduate transfers, transfers looking for hardships and transfers who will be eligible after sitting out last year.

First, with graduate transfers, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. is heading to Knoxville from the USC Trojans. He was a return specialist who was deadly on special teams and could make plays with the ball in open space. As a result, he could almost immediately help to offset the departures of Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings along with Josh Palmer and young guys like Ramel Keyton.

Then there are the regular transfers who could receive a waiver. Most notable among them is Cade Mays, the five-star offensive lineman transferring from the Georgia Bulldogs who was once committed to UT back in 2017. Everybody knows about him. But then there’s Miles Jones, once a four-star slot receiver, who transferred from the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Finally, Jeremy Pruitt will be ready to insert Deangelo Gibbs, who transferred from the Georgia Bulldogs last year, into the lineup, as he will now be eligible. Gibbs can play safety, where Nigel Warrior left a void, or wide receiver. He was once a four-star. Simply put, these guys could all be major contributors