The Tennessee football coaching staff is still searching the transfer portal for pieces to add to their 2024 roster as the team prepares to play Iowa in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando in 2023.
To far, the Vols have added four players at key areas of need: Chris Brazzell Jr., a receiver from Tulane, Jermod McCoy, a cornerback from Oregon State, Holden Staes, a tight end from Notre Dame, and safety JaKobe Thomas from MTSU.
However, Josh Heupel said last week that Tennessee is still looking to add additional transfers, and that will continue even after the bowl game. This was mentioned when the Vols signed their first three transfers. What positions, then, ought Tennessee should target for player acquisitions?
Priority One
Safety
Safety is the spot Tennessee still needs to add bodies at the most. While there are other positions of need left, none of them are extremely pressing. In fact, at every other spot Tennessee still has starter quality players.
At safety, Tennessee badly needs to add more starting caliber players. Landing MTSU safety JaKobe Thomas was a nice addition but it was truly just a start.
Jaylen McCollough and Wesley Walker played the vast majority of Tennessee’s snaps last season. McCollough is out of eligibility and Walker is in the transfer portal. Andre Turrentine struggled in two starts to end the season, rising-senior Christian Charles has yet to make a true impact and rising-junior Jourdan Thomas has flashed potential but doesn’t have major experience. True freshman Boo Carter and redshirt freshman John Slaughter could also push for playing time.
All that to say, Tennessee needs more starting quality players at safety. At the very least they need more bodies to provide depth and competition.
Priority Two
Cornerback
Like safety, Tennessee has been ravished by the transfer portal at corner this offseason. Unlike safety, Tennessee has more corners that appear to be viable starters for next season.
McCoy started at Oregon State as a true freshman last season and was a solid player. Freshman Rickey Gibson III flashed in spots during the 2023 season. The Vols also return talented freshman corners Jordan Matthews and Cristian Conyer. Starter Gabe Jeudy-Lally also has eligibility remaining though his return seems unlikely.
Tennessee has some talented pieces to like at corner but they’re also extremely low on numbers and experience. They need to add more of both in the transfer portal.
Priority Three
Defensive Tackle
Tennessee’s need for defensive tackles is dependent on a few pending decisions. Redshirt senior Elijah Simmons has one-year of eligibility remaining but hasn’t announced whether he intends to use it. Redshirt junior Omarr-Norman Lott went through Senior Day festivities but it is unclear whether or not he’ll move on from college football or return for another season.
The Vols do return Omari Thomas, Dominic Bailey, Bryson Eason and freshmen Daevin Hobbs and Tyree Weathersby. If either Simmons or Norman-Lott returns, Tennessee would be fine without adding a defensive tackle.
But if neither returns, Tennessee could use another body at a position that rotate