Josh Heupel and the Tennessee football program have quietly started to build some momentum on the Transfer Portal. They landed a massive defensive tackle from Penn State, Xavier Gilliam, and a reliable kicker from Louisville in Cooper Renvier.
The harsh reality is, the news of former 5-star LEO Jordan Ross hitting the Transfer Portal shocked everyone in Tennessee. The young LEO had been slated to take over for Joshua Josephs, who is preparing for the NFL Draft. Many fans and the staff had high hopes for him, but it didn't pan out.
With Ross leaving, the Vols have to look elsewhere. Tennessee had tried to get Adam Trick on campus from Miami (OH), but he committed to Texas Tech before ever setting foot in Knoxville. Tennessee has long been in pursuit of the number one edge rusher in the portal, Chaz Coleman, and Jordan Ross landing at LSU could mean good news for Tennessee.
BREAKING: Tennessee transfer EDGE Jordan Ross has signed with LSU, @PeteNakos reports🐯
— On3 (@On3sports) January 9, 2026
Ross was a 5-star recruit in the 2024 class. https://t.co/qrx2T2bEYy pic.twitter.com/RRTH2jmhCC
Tennessee now has a better shot at landing Chaz Coleman
Lane Kiffin has been aggressively trying to rebuild in Baton Rouge through the portal. He has already landed 14 players, six of them rated as 4-stars according to 247Sports. With the addition of Ross, LSU has lost ground on Chaz Coleman.
If we're keeping it real, LSU only has so much money, and both young guys would be competing for a starting spot on the same defense. Plus, Chaz Coleman already knows the scheme in Knoxville with his former defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, now running the show.
It's worth noting that Tennessee's latest commit, Xavier Gilliam, is also a former teammate of Coleman's. Gilliam has been recruiting Coleman to Tennessee ever since he signed with the Vols. There is a lot of familiarity with Tennessee and Coleman, and he would have a golden opportunity to be at the top of the depth chart. Rodney Garner is one of the best defensive line coaches in the nation as well. His track record is great as a recruiter and developer, and learning from him could be a major pull for Coleman.
There are also rumors that Ohio State may be backing off on Coleman. That would be a significant development, as the Buckeyes are always a major threat on the recruiting trail, and it could put Tennessee firmly in the driver’s seat.
The encouraging part about all of this is that Josh Heupel's hard work has a real shot to pay off soon.