Tennessee Vols morning report: More updates on football transfers
Transfer news on three Tennessee Vols leads our Volunteers news for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.
Drama continues to surround the Tennessee Vols football program. One day after they brought in Kevin Steele and more questions arose surrounding the investigation, a wave of transfer news continued to surround the team.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with that transfer news, as one player withdrew from the portal and one player entered it. We also have news of a landing spot for one player. It’s been a wild ride, and the season hasn’t even been over for a month yet.
Beyond the football news, though, we have a couple of previews in women’s basketball and swimming and diving to bring you. After all, winter sports still go on even with all the other chaos surrounding the world right now. Let’s start with the transfer news, though.
Wanya Morris enters transfer portal – Brent Hubbs, VolQuest.com
After two years as a starting left tackle for the Tennessee Vols football team, Wanya Morris has entered the transfer portal. In 2019, Morris was one of UT’s top recruits along with fellow offensive lineman Darnell Wright.
"The Vols are currently without an offensive line coach as Jeremy Pruitt has interviewed multiple candidates for he job he last ten days. Pruitt has been in regular conversations with Morris and his family over the last week try to convince Morris to return to he Vols."
Shawn Shamburger withdraws from transfer portal – Caleb Wethington, WATE
One day after entering the transfer portal, Tennessee football defensive back Shawn Shamburger withdrew his name. It looks like he’ll be returning to Rocky Top. Shamburger was a senior this past year and, up until that time, was a regular starter at nickel. He joins Matthew Butler and Kenneth George Jr. as defensive players announcing they will return within the last week.
"Shamburger played in three games this past season before leaving the team to focus on academics. However, he did make quite an impact during his junior year."
Former UT receiver finds new home – Louis Fernandez, WBIR
A month after deciding to enter the transfer portal, former Tennessee Vols football wide receiver Brandon Johnson has found his new destination. He announced he would join the UCF Knights a day after Ty Chandler landed with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
"A Florida native, Johnson went to high school in Fort Lauderdale. He joined Tennessee as part of the Class of 2016. Johnson finished his career at UT with 79 catches, 969 receiving yards, scoring one touchdown. He played in 46 games."
Lady Vols to host Georgia Bulldogs – Maria M. Cornelius, GoVols247
In their first outing as a top 25 team in both polls, at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll, the Tennessee women’s basketball team will host the Georgia Bulldogs Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. UT comes in with an 8-1 overall record and 2-0 SEC record, and UGA comes in with a 10-1 overall record and 2-1 SEC record.
"The Lady Bulldogs have conference wins over Auburn and Florida with a seven-point loss to Mississippi State. Georgia is receiving votes in both the AP and coaches’ polls and lands at No. 27 if the polls extended two more spots. In the all-important NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) – which is updated daily and the key factor in NCAA tourney seeding – Georgia is No. 15, while Tennessee is No. 24."
Swimming and Diving set to face Kentucky – UTSports
On Thursday, the No. 5 ranked Tennessee Lady Vols women’s swimming and diving team will host the Kentucky Wildcats. The No. 11 ranked Tennessee Vols men’s swimming and diving team will then host them Friday.
"Tennessee and Kentucky are meeting for the second time this season, following a late October meet in Lexington. At that meet, the Lady Vols fell to the Wildcats 152-148 in a matchup that went down to the final race. On the men’s side, the Vols triumphed over UK in dominating fashion, winning 194.5-105.5."