Tennessee football adds USC transfer DL Caleb Tremblay for 2021

Despite the wealth of experience on the defensive line heading into 2021, Josh Heupel was on the lookout to add more depth there. Anybody who saw the results of what happened in the Tennessee football spring game knew that was a good idea.

On Thursday, Heupel deliver in a big way. The Vols secured a commitment from USC Trojans transfer defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay, who will join them in 2021. A product of Northern California, Tremblay stands at 6’5″ 270 pounds.

Back in 2018, Tremblay was a junior college commitment to USC’s class out of American River Community College in Sacramento, Calif. with a four-star rating across the board. Sacramento is his hometown, as he went to Vintage High School there. Tremblay announced his commitment to Tennessee football on Twitter.

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After joining USC, he had a mini-breakout year in 2019 with 16 tackles, 10 of which were solo, to go along with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. However, he never got things going in 2020, appearing in only two games with three tackles, none of which were solo and just an assist in a tackle for a loss.

Still, Tremblay’s 2019 performance shows he can be a solid contributor in the right system, and he could help the Vols with their switch to a 4-3 base. Although he is listed as a defensive tackle, his frame suggests he’ll play a good bit on the edge as well.

UT’s defensive line now has options for a solid rotation this year with Tremblay, though, as Darel Middleton, Aubrey Solomon, Greg Emerson, Kurrott Garland, Matthew Butler, LaTrell Bumphus and Ja’Quain Blakely are all experienced contributors in the system. Going back to a base of four down linemen did require that Tim Banks have more depth there, though, and Tremblay provides that.

Following place kicker Chase McGrath, Tremblay is the second USC player to transfer to Tennessee football this offseason. He is the fourth overall player to transfer to the Vols, as Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Hendon Hooker and Michigan Wolverines quarterback Joe Milton also transferred to the Vols. All of them are graduate transfers.