Tennessee and Josh Heupel have been hit with some rough transfer portal updates this week, but it seems like some major, good news is going to be on the way. That'd be because all signs are now pointing to Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam joining the Vols for next season.
Tennessee football loses former 5-star to the transfer portal
Several teams have been in the hunt to land the standout defensive lineman, but the Vols have made him a top priority. According to insider Chris Hummer, Tennessee is now in the driver's seat to get things done with Gilliam. Could some breaking news be on the way shortly? That seems like it's likely going to be the case:
Have placed a Crystal Ball pick for Tennessee with Penn State DT transfer Xavier Gilliam.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 7, 2026
Gilliam ranks as the No. 4 DL in the rankings. He posted 15 tackles and 2 TFLs this season. He's also considering Indiana and Notre Dame, among others.https://t.co/GxUqfcIv2O pic.twitter.com/LixBB2NlcU
Tennessee is now the favorite to land Penn State DT transfer Xavier Gilliam
This would no question be a massive get for Heupel, as Gilliam is a true stud. He took a recent official visit to Knoxville to meet with the staff and it looks like that trip to the UT campus checked off a lot of boxes for him.
It also has Heupel optimistic that he's going to be SEC-bound soon enough. That's not going to come easy, however, as Notre Dame and Indiana are also in the hunt here, among others. The Fighting Irish have been missing on a lot of their portal targets, while Indiana has been on fire.
Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers are also pushing for a national title, with the CFP semifinals coming this week. With that said, the fact that Hummer put in his official prediction for Tennessee to win out on this recruiting battle is exciting.
It would also make sense for the big-bodied DT, as former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is now leading the Tennessee defense. This would be a reunion for Knowles and Gilliam and it's one the Tennessee faithful is hoping gets finalized soon. Last season for Penn State, the 6-2, 300-pounder posted 16 total tackles, 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble.