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Tennessee football: LB Martavius French enters transfer portal

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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For the second time this week, one of the four Tennessee football players suspended due to an incident before spring practice began has entered the transfer portal. This time, the Vols suffered a much more devastating loss given their immediate needs.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Martavius French revealed Friday night he was entering the portal. Once a four-star out of Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn. in the 2020 class, French was a crucial player at a thin position, standing at 6’3″ 230 pounds.

The on-campus incident that French was involved in also resulted in the was suspensions of defensive lineman Isaac Washington, linebacker Aaron Willis and quarterback Kaidon Salter. French was the only player not a newcomer who was involved. His decision came one day after Washington revealed he also entered the portal, and he announced it on Twitter.

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Obviously, with both French and Washington gone, you have to think that the incident is serious enough that Josh Heupel could have potentially dismissed the players. French’s tweet acknowledging his mistakes seem to suggest as much.

If that’s the case, the Vols are in even bigger trouble, as Willis and Salter could both be gone as well. Both players were four-stars in UT’s 2021 class, while Washington was a three-star. Salter was expected to take part in the quarterback race this past spring.

With French gone, Rocky Top is in even bigger trouble at inside linebacker. Quavaris Crouch has already transferred to the Michigan State Spartans, and Henry To’o To’o and J.J. Peterson are still in the transfer portal. If Willis leaves, that will make things even worse.

Simply put, Tim Banks has an issue there, and his switch to a base 4-3 with primary nickel schemes won’t be enough to solve it. The Vols really only have one guy who can truly play the position right now, Solon Page III.

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Washington, who entered the portal before French, also makes Tennessee football thin at defensive line for the future now in addition to linebacker, as he and defensive lineman KaTron Evans, both members of the 2021 class, are now gone. That won’t be an issue this year, but beyond 2021, Heupel has a lot of work to do on the recruiting trail with the front seven.

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