Tennessee has lost another player to the SEC, a trend that seems to be growing. Jordan Ross and William Satterwhite are going to LSU to play for former Vols head coach Lane Kiffin. Max Gilbert, Rickey Gibson III, and Lance Heard have also ended up in the SEC, a common theme with Vols in the portal.
It was announced on X that former Tennessee edge rusher Caleb Herring is going to South Carolina to play for Shane Beamer. The athletic pass-rusher had 14 tackles and 4.0 sacks, including a two-sack game versus Mississippi State last season.
Herring is a talented player who has a quick first step when rushing the passer. He was a former 4-star who never quite cracked Tennessee's starting lineup but was always a solid depth piece. He started the Music City Bowl for the Vols and had a mixed performance.
Caleb Herring will play against Tennessee next fall
It’s no surprise that Herring ended up in the SEC. He’s a quality pass rusher and was expected to have a significant role in Knoxville next fall. Losing both him and Ross is certainly unfortunate, but landing Chaz Coleman helps soften the blow and makes the departures a lot easier to stomach for Tennessee.
South Carolina will host Tennessee on October 24th, where Herring will look to get some revenge on the Vols. Staying in the SEC is beneficial for Herring, too, as he knows the physicality of the conference, and it will boost his draft stock if he can ball out. He will be playing alongside Dylan Stewart, a projected top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Having a game wrecker on the line should open up more opportunities for Herring.
Chaz Coleman will be the starting LEO for Tennessee next year, taking the spot that was supposed to be Herirng's. Losing a talented lineman hurts, but it's the reality of the transfer portal era. Tennessee has used it to its advantage, too. They will need some young guys to step up, like Christian Glass and Mariyon Dye. Tennessee also added Tulan transfer Jordan Norman, who can play on the edge. Norman posted 28 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2025, helping lead Tulane to the playoffs.