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Tennessee football: Is Florida transfer OL Gerald Mincey first of many additions for Vols?

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Gerald Mincey #54 of the Florida Gators looks on during the third quarter of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Gerald Mincey #54 of the Florida Gators looks on during the third quarter of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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It looks like Tennessee football has a method in addition to recruiting to restock its roster under Josh Heupel. The Vols may have taken the first step towards that method with a huge pickup on the offensive line via the transfer portal.

Florida Gators transfer offensive lineman Gerald Mincey is heading to Rocky Top. Once a three-star across all services in 2020, Mincey played in nine games this past year as a reserve and proved himself to be a promising young prospect for the future.

Standing at 6’6″ 320 pounds, the native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. will have three years of eligibility remaining, can play immediately and will likely line up at offensive tackle. He announced his decision to join Tennessee football Friday afternoon on Twitter.

Mincey’s announcement came within the hour of elite wide receiver Kaleb Webb committing to the Vols for 2022, and this shows UT’s two-fold approach. Heupel can add talent on the recruiting trail, but he can also target the transfer portal.

Given the new NCAA rules allowing players to transfer one time without having to sit out a year, the team that gets ahead of the curve and starts focusing on this will have an advantage. When you look at the new NIL ruling as well, a school like UT can use the portal like a free agent market.

Taking that into account, Rocky Top may just be getting started with the portal. Florida has lost a ton of talent over the past few days, which is natural given the coaching change, and the same likely holds true of the LSU Tigers. Heupel and co. should be ready to pounce.

On the field, Mincey is a huge pickup. The Vols likely have four starters returning on the line. Jerome Carvin announced he would take advantage of the COVID eligibility ruling and return for a fifth year. Cooper Mays and Javontez Spraggins aren’t eligible to leave year. Darnell Wright likely needs to do more to improve his draft stock.

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Cade Mays is the only real question at right tackle, but if he leaves, a guy like Mincey can truly help offset that. Add in the likelihood that K’Rojhn Calbert will have another year of eligibility, and Mincey is exactly what Tennessee football needs to keep the rotation going. His future is still promising. It’s just now promising on Rocky Top.

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