The Vols are back in the winner’s circle, landing another top talent in the transfer portal. Tennessee now has two commits this cycle and will look to add even more as the week progresses.
Josh Heupel draws a pair of eye-catching transfer portal visitors to Tennessee today
Pete Thamel of ESPN has reported that LSU offensive lineman Ory Williams has committed to Tennessee. Williams is fresh off a visit to Knoxville. Williams was listed in All for Tennessee's transfer targets for the Vols. Getting a young, versatile lineman is huge, as Heupel has lost a lot of young depth linemen this portal cycle.
Ory Williams has committed to Tennessee, per @APSportsAgency. https://t.co/uaxqQjgxci
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 6, 2026
Tennessee lands Ory Williams from the transfer portal
Williams had a lot of good competition after him. Georgia and Auburn were also trying to get the pledge from the former LSU Tiger. He will be a redshirt sophomore next fall and will be a depth player, possibly being added to the rotation if someone gets hurt. It looks like Jesse Perry and David Sanders Jr. will have the tackle spots in 2026.
Although Williams will likely have a chance to compete for a starting job in camp. The former 4-star recruit has elite length and natural power. In 2025, he played 150 snaps for LSU, registering a 67.2 pass block grade and a 66.2 run block grade by Pro Football Focus.
This is a strong addition for Josh Heupel. Bringing in a young tackle from a major program like LSU with game experience is always a plus. Williams has all of the tools he just needs to put it all together.
Tennessee now has two portal commitments and their should be more on the way. Stay tuned.