And there you have it, folks! After a long wait, Tennessee has finally got its quarterback from the transfer portal. Josh Heupel was very selective during the process, and he landed on former Colorado Buffaloes Ryan Staub, as Pete Nakos and Hayes Fawcett of On3 have reported that Staub has just committed to the Vols.
Josh Heupel wastes no time as Tennessee lands two transfer portal commits in one morning
BREAKING: Colorado transfer QB Ryan Staub has committed to Tennessee, @PeteNakos and @Hayesfawcett3 report🍊https://t.co/E2ecC9qa0j pic.twitter.com/QcqjEYen7U
— On3 (@On3) January 18, 2026
QB Ryan Staub is now a Tennessee Vol
Ryan Staub will make his way to Knoxville as more of a veteran backup than a surefire starter from day one. It is much more likely that George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon is the QB1 next fall in the opening matchup against Furman. The Good news is that the Vols will likely have a big lead in that game and will be able to experiment with multiple quarterbacks before they take on a good Georgia Tech team in week two.
Pete Thamel reported that Staub also visited Ohio State, Kentucky, Liberty, and Cincinnati. Fans should view this addition as an insurance policy. Staub is a very good backup quarterback, but in reality, hopefully, he never plays, as it would likely mean something went terribly wrong. Beating out talented schools likeOhio State and Kentucky should have Vols fans excited about Staub.
Ryan Staub's commitment to the Vols comes after a flurry of visits -- Cincinnati, Kentucky, Ohio State and Liberty. He visited also visited the Vols. https://t.co/dtlfdQUK6I
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 18, 2026
After missing on Sam Leavitt, Beau Pribula, and Ty Simpson, it's refreshing to finally get a win, plus maybe Joey Aguilar will get another year of eligibility. Who knows with the NCAA, and what will happen with the lawsuit, as the NCAA has no sense of direction or ability to be consistent in any matter.
Staub comes to Tennessee with two more years of eligibility. The Buffaloes' signal-caller threw for 427 yards (54.5%) in 2025. He also added three touchdowns and four interceptions. He is a quarterback who has some mobility and is known as a good leader. Deion Sanders has spoken on Staub's growth as a player, saying, "But he's just been a great human being and a great young man, like a leader amongst that room. All he needed was the opportunity, and I thought it was time."
Staub is now the 18th addition to Tennessee via the Transfer Portal.