Tennessee football has lost several players in its wide receiver room to the transfer portal during this cycle, and it looks like the Vols are hitting the position hard now that the portal window is closed to new additions.
Josh Heupel and company have been recruiting hard out of the portal, including USC WR Zachariah Branch and Florida State WR Malik Benson. Alabama transfer WR Amari Jefferson is the newest player the Vols are targeting, and they have been predicted to bring home the former four-star receiver.
Jefferson was a four-star recruit out of high school and originally committed to Nick Saban. However, he has entered the portal since Saban retired and Kalen Deboer ended his first season as the Crimson Tide's head coach.
The Chattanooga, Tennessee, native decided to officially enter the portal on Thursday after not seeing the field his freshman season. He initially signed with Alabama over Miami, Tennessee, and South Carolina, automatically making Tennessee a big player in his transfer recruitment.
Jefferson had complimentary things to say about Tennessee when speaking about his decision to On3. “ being so close to home and opportunities it brings being a Tennessee kid,” Jefferson said. “They have a very good young team and a lot of guys I’m close with, played high school ball with and stuff like that.”
That could also explain why On3 Recruiting's Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong have already made an expert prediction that Jefferson will sign with Tennessee outside the portal.
NEW: On3’s @SWiltfong_ and @PeteNakos_ have logged expert predictions for Tennessee to land Alabama transfer WR Amari Jefferson🍊
— On3 (@On3sports) January 2, 2025
Read: https://t.co/RTwCla2gsX pic.twitter.com/zbzIC4TqMs
This would be a huge addition for Tennessee after the portal gutted the wide receiver room in December. If a few things go their way, the Vols could have a massive next couple of weeks in transfer portal recruiting, and it could start with signing Jefferson.
Jefferson was a teammate of freshman standout Boo Carter, who is expected to play a bigger role on both sides of the ball next season. If Jefferson signs with Tennessee, it will be a reunion between Jefferson and Carter, which would create another opportunity to create explosive plays in Heupel's offense.