Tennessee football added two, lost three instant impact transfers named by outlet

When a program hires a new head coach and is in the midst of an NCAA investigation, it would seem impossible to think of a bigger storyline surrounding it entering the season. However, the transfer portal has been just that for Tennessee football this offseason.

In a list of 21 instant impact transfers for 2021 by Pete Fiutak of College Football News, two players who joined the Vols were on there. However, three players who left the Vols for other programs were also on there.

The two who joined Tennessee football, to be fair, were tied at No. 20, as only one of them will make an impact. They were Michigan Wolverines transfer Joe Milton and Virginia Tech Hokies graduate transfer Hendon Hooker. Both are quarterbacks. Here’s what was said about them.

"The Vols lost a ton of talent to the transfer portal, but new head coach Josh Heupel has a slew of quarterbacks to choose from. There are already a few nice options in place, but Hooker was a rising star at Virginia Tech and Milton has all the tools – but couldn’t put them together – at Michigan. Whoever gets the gig will be a statistical star."

Players who left the Vols on this list included offensive lineman Wanya Morris at No. 6, running back Eric Gray at No. 5 and linebacker Henry To’o To’o at No. 4. Morris and Gray joined the Oklahoma Sooners, while To’o To’o joined the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Obviously, these were all huge losses for UT, and this once again serves as evidence that the Vols lost more than they gained in the portal. However, this list at least shows the possible gains they made, and that can’t be ignored going forward.

A bigger story could be the less heralded gains and losses. Don’t forget that linebacker Quavaris Crouch also transferred, joining the Michigan State Spartans. Other losses included offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson, who joined the Texas A&M Aggies, running back Ty Chandler, who joined the North Carolina Tar Heels, and edge rusher Deandre Johnson, who joined the Miami Hurricanes.

On the other hand, Josh Heupel added linebackers William Mohan and Juwan Mitchell from Michigan and the Texas Longhorns respectively, wide receiver JaVonta Payton from the Mississippi State Bulldogs and defensive backs Brandon Turnage and Kamal Hadden from the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers respectively. Simply put, there was a lot of turnover.

Either way, these and many more transfers and additions are what leave Tennessee football’s season wide open. Combine them with a new head coach, and you’ve almost got a brand new team. What’s clear is that their losses and gains will all have a huge impact.