The Tennessee Vols have been hit hard this offseason by both the transfer portal and graduation. Six players have entered the portal, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara, and Amare Abram have all exhausted their eligibility. It’s almost hard to believe players still run out of eligibility in this era of college sports.
Tennessee taking on blue bloods with Rick Barnes' aggressive pursuit of elite portal center
On the other hand, Rick Barnes has been aggressive in the transfer portal, adding some strong talent to the Vols’ roster. Tennessee has already landed Dai Dai Ames, Tyler Lundblade, and Miles Rubin, three players expected to be major contributors next season. There’s also still a chance that freshman forward Nate Ament returns for another year in Knoxville.
However, with the portal comes some eye-opening moves, and former Vols forward Jaylen Carey just made one. Carey is on his third SEC school and fourth different school in four seasons, as he has just committed to play for Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers.
NEWS: Tennessee transfer big man Jaylen Carey has committed to Missouri, he told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 13, 2026
The 6-8 junior averaged 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. Previously played at JMU and Vanderbilt.https://t.co/HiyShdwSDI pic.twitter.com/IE0yn7NKxk
Jaylen Carey stays in conference with Missouri
It’s tough to see, but in today’s college sports landscape, it’s not all that surprising. Many expected Carey to play a major role in Tennessee’s Final Four push next season. Coming off the bench and making a few starts in 2025–26, he averaged 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 48% from the field.
Not to mention, if Tennessee hosts Missouri next season, Carey likely won’t receive the warmest welcome at Food City Center. Vols fans respect what he accomplished in Knoxville, but leaving when he could have been a key contributor may not sit well. I'm sure Carey will have the Tennessee rematch marked on his calendar as well, wanting to show Rick Barnes he was worth a pay raise.
It’s been widely reported that Rick Barnes didn’t want to overpay his own players, and it seems like Carey may have been a casualty of that approach. If Tennessee can land another impact big man, they should be just fine, and credit to Carey for finding a solid landing spot. We'll see you next seaosn.
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