New Vols WR Amari Jefferson makes honest admission about when he first thought about transferring from Alabama to Tennessee
The Tennessee Vols made a big transfer addition earlier this month by landing former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Jefferson. Jefferson is a former four-star recruit who signed with Alabama over Tennessee during the 2024 recruiting cycle. The main reason Jefferson chose the Crimson Tide over the Volunteers as a recruit was because of […]
The Tennessee Vols made a big transfer addition earlier this month by landing former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Jefferson.
Jefferson is a former four-star recruit who signed with Alabama over Tennessee during the 2024 recruiting cycle.
The main reason Jefferson chose the Crimson Tide over the Volunteers as a recruit was because of legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
Saban, however, retired shortly after Jefferson signed with Alabama.
The Chattanooga native stuck with the Crimson Tide for the 2024 season (Jefferson didn't play in 2024 after suffering a hip injury) before entering the NCAA transfer portal after the season.
Jefferson joined the Talkin' VAWLS podcast on Sunday and he revealed that he first started thinking about transferring to Tennessee when the Vols played Alabama this past season.
"At that point (when Tennessee played Alabama), I was already done practicing, we were kind of doing stuff with my hip, getting ready for me to get surgery," explained Jefferson. "I was at practice. But it definitely was probably the most emotional week for me if I'm being honest. Just Alabama going up to Tennessee, playing my home state.
"It was pretty emotional, I'm not going to lie. I had some mixed emotions about it because, you know, stuff wasn't really going the way I planned at Bama. Just with Tennessee being so close to home and stuff, I was starting to already think about maybe, hopefully, I could get back up to Tennessee if things kind of go how I think they will. But it definitely was an emotional week for me, just with Bama going up to Tennessee and playing. I got a lot of friends that I played with and against that played at Tennessee. And I think that was really the first week that I started to feel like maybe it's best if I just go home and play for Tennessee, just seeing all the stuff that's going on. So I really think that was the start of the thoughts of maybe returning back to Tennessee."
Tennessee beat Alabama 24-17 that week.
And Jefferson eventually made his way to Tennessee despite signing with Alabama out of high school.
It was a unique path for Jefferson, but it ultimately all worked out for the former four-star recruit.
Jefferson, by the way, will get a chance to see his old Alabama teammates this fall when Tennessee travels to Tuscaloosa for the latest installment of the Third Saturday in October rivalry.
