Tennessee Vols linebacker reportedly transfers to SEC program after recently entering NCAA transfer portal

Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman linebacker Jalen Smith reportedly has a new home.  Smith, a former four-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2023 recruiting cycle, is transferring to Mississippi State to play for Jeff Lebby.  The Georgia native reportedly took a visit to Auburn before committing to Mississippi State.  Smith's decision to enter the […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman linebacker Jalen Smith reportedly has a new home. 

Smith, a former four-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2023 recruiting cycle, is transferring to Mississippi State to play for Jeff Lebby. 

The Georgia native reportedly took a visit to Auburn before committing to Mississippi State. 

Smith's decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal came as a bit of a surprise to Vols fans. 

The former Tennessee linebacker, who played in all 12 regular season games for the Vols in 2024 while totaling 34 tackles and two tackles for loss, looked like he was primed for a bigger role in UT's defense. 

Smith recorded a career high nine tackles while playing 34 snaps in Tennessee's win against Kentucky in November. He was the Vols' highest graded (78.3 per Pro Football Focus) linebacker against the Wildcats. 

Tennessee and Mississippi State will play each other in Starkville in 2025.

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