After all the talk about how losing so many players to the transfer portal was going to wreck Tennessee football Josh Heupel’s first year on the job, the Vols were able to have a shocking turnaround thanks to a number of their own transfers. Now, heading into 2022, the tables have turned to a degree.
UT had a solid recruiting class coming off a 7-6 season and returns a ton of talent. They are the ones with the chance to target players who would fit an immediate need. Doing so could take the program up another level even sooner than most experts initially thought.
As we get set to break down the players in the transfer portal they should target, these are all uncommitted prospects. They also would mostly fill voids Rocky Top needs to fill now, and the program’s connections to them may put them higher up on the list. These are the top 10 transfers Tennessee football should pursue.
Sophomore
With Theo Jackson gone, the Vols have options at nickel. After all, Brandon Turnage and Kamal Hadden are both on the roster. However, one of them, likely Hadden, is probably going to fill the open spot at cornerback. That means there’s no real competition at either position when it comes to experience, and UT needs players at both.
Josh Newton could help offset the loss at nickel. Standing at 6’0″ 188 pounds, the graduate of Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, La., has been a two-year starter with the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks and very productive for them in the process.
Last year, Newton had a breakout campaign with five tackles for a loss, eight pass deflections, two interceptions and 48 tackles, 28 of which were solo. That earned him PFF All Sun Belt Honorable Mention. He has two years of eligibility remaining, so his experience and the depth he provides would be huge for Tennessee football.