The Transfer Portal has treated Tennessee fairly well so far. While the Vols have missed on a few high-profile targets, they’ve largely done a solid job adding talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
3 Tennessee QB backup plans with Sam Leavitt spurning Josh Heupel for Lane Kiffin
Monday has been a less-than-ideal day for Josh Heupel and Tennessee when it comes to quarterback recruiting. The first domino was Tennessee missing out on their bona fide top target, Sam Leavitt. He decided to take his talents to LSU, leaving Tennessee behind despite a last-ditch effort by Heupel.
The next domino is now being reported by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Beau Pribula is off the board, as the former Mizzou signal-caller has decided to play for Tony Elliot and Virginia next fall.
Virginia has landed a commitment from Missouri quarterback transfer Beau Pribula, sources tell me and @JacquieFran_ for @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 13, 2026
Was Mizzou’s starting QB this season. pic.twitter.com/YzJpsyX995
Tennessee misses out on Beau Pribula too
This one doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as the Vols never really put the full-court press on Pribula. Still, the staff did bring him in for a visit, and they wouldn’t have spent that time if they didn’t genuinely like what he brings to the table. Pribula has a good dual-threat game that would have worked in Knoxville.
With Pribula off the board, you'd have to think Heupel turns up the heat on Ty Simpson. It won't be cheap though, as Miami has offered $6.5 million to the Alabama quarterback. QB1 could make or break Tennessee this fall, so the decision needs to be made tactically and swiftly by Heupel.
The quarterback options in the portal are pretty thin, so if the Vols swing and miss on Simpson, it likely means rolling with a freshman next fall. That’s not the worst-case scenario, but having a veteran in the room would’ve been ideal to give George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon another year to develop and mature.