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Tracking Tennessee football seniors and transfers: Who’s leaving? Who’s coming back?

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) points to a South Carolina defender as he runs downfield in the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, October 9, 2021.Utvsc1007 /
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Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) during warm ups before the game against South Carolina on Saturday, October 26, 2019Kns Ut South Carolina
Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) during warm ups before the game against South Carolina on Saturday, October 26, 2019Kns Ut South Carolina /

With the offseason comes transfers, NFL Draft departures and the news of which players are coming back. It’s going to be more unique over the next three years, including this one, as seniors who played in 2020 and graduate will still have an extra year of eligibility. Tennessee football is dealing with all of this right now.

As news continues to come in on who is staying and who is going, this post will keep you up to date on all the information necessary. The first page will be players entering the NFL Draft and other seniors not coming back. Redshirt juniors could have made this page too, but the main ones in question, Cedric Tillman and Jacob Warren, have said they’re coming back.

A few other redshirt juniors are in question, though, including Joe Milton III, Ollie Lane and Toby Wilson, but we won’t name them unless they make a move. Seniors who can’t return, seniors who are returning and seniors who haven’t announced will each take up another page. We’ll close with players in the portal and those who have transferred. Let’s start with those in the draft.

Players entering NFL Draft

Alontae Taylor (Declared Dec. 1)

  • Defensive back
  • 6’0″ 195 pounds
  • Manchester, Tenn.

This happened after Tennessee football finished the regular season, and it wasn’t much of a surprise. Alontae Taylor was a four-year starter at cornerback for the Vols and one of their best defensive players in 2021. He opted out of the Music City Bowl.

Cade Mays (Declared Jan. 1)

  • Offensive lineman
  • 6’6″ 325 pounds
  • Knoxville, Tenn.

After transferring from the Georgia Bulldogs, Cade Mays became a starter at guard immediately upon becoming eligible in 2020. He moved over to right tackle in 2021 due to the reshuffling of the line, but his versatility, potential and production made it unsurprising that he would not stay for a fifth year, so Tennessee football losing him isn’t surprising.

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