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

Players in the transfer portal per 247Sports

Chris Akporoghene (Entered Jan. 23)

• Offensive lineman
• 6’3″ 310 pounds
• Warri, Nigeria

Despite being a four-star on Rivals in the Vols’ 2019 recruiting class out of IMG Academy in Florida, Chris Akporoghene saw less action this past year than he did in the previous two years, and he was a reserve the whole time. He limits UT’s options at right tackle with K’Rojhn Calbert gone, but given how little he has played, it doesn’t seem like he ever would have been one.

Kaemen Marley (Entered Jan. 14)

• Wide receiver
• 6’3″ 195 pounds
• Ramseur, N.C.

One of the few unanimous four-stars in Tennessee football’s 2021 recruiting class, Kaemen Marley was an athlete out of North Carolina who Josh Heupel started out at wide receiver. He never played, though, battling injuries all year and then was worked at linebacker during bowl practices before not traveling with the team to Nashville for the Music City Bowl.

Trinity Bell (Entered Jan. 13)

• Tight end
• 6’7″ 265 pounds
• Albertville, Ala.

Listed as a hybrid defensive end/tight end in the 2021 recruiting class out of Alabama, Trinity Bell has the size to provide a huge mismatch at either position. However, he saw no action in 2021, and given the future of the Vols at both positions, it makes sense that he would look elsewhere.

Fred Orr (Entered Jan. 13)

• Running back
• 5’11” 212 pounds
• Valdosta, Ga.

A walk-on who saw action in 2019 and 2020, Fred Orr likely took a chance in 2021 given all the turmoil at running back. However, he was a two-star in 2019 who received offers from Group of Five schools, so after not seeing action this year, it makes sense for him to go somewhere else where he can clearly play.

Will Albright (Entered Jan. 6)

• Long snapper
• 6’1″ 220 pounds
• Greeneville, Tenn.

It’s a bit surprising when you look back. Will Albright actually received a scholarship as a long snapper, a rarity. However, he couldn’t ever beat out Matthew Salansky. As a result, two years in, it makes sense for him to enter the portal.

Dee Beckwith (Entered Jan. 6)

• Running back
• 6’5″ 227 pounds
• Florence, Ala.

Josh Heupel was looking for three running backs and to have one power back included in that. Len’Neth Whitehead emerged as that power back. Dee Beckwith, a 2020 commitment out of Alabama, was in competition for that role, so his departure makes sense.

Despite being a five-star in Tennessee football’s 2020 recruiting class, Harrison Bailey couldn’t beat out Joe Milton III or Hendon Hooker in 2021. He’s probably not the best fit for Heupel’s system anyway. As a result, his mid-season transfer was no surprising.

Carlin Fils-Aime (Entered Sept. 24)

• Running back
• 5’11” 185 pounds
• Naples, Fla.

Similar to Beckwith, Carlin Fils-Aime needed to go somewhere else as well. At the time, Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small had emerged, and Jaylen Wright has since emerged. Fils-Aime’s eligibility may be in question, though, as he was a 2016 recruit and entered the portal in-season.