Tennessee finds replacement for transfer player that initially committed to Vols then signed elsewhere
The Tennessee Vols made a lowkey good transfer addition on Sunday.
The Tennessee Vols made an under-the-radar transfer addition on Sunday.
According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos, Idaho State transfer wide receiver Ian Duarte has committed to Tennessee.
Duarte, 5-10, 176 pounds from Santa Clarita, CA, caught 46 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
The former three-star recruit signed with Idaho State during the 2023 recruiting cycle. He visited Tennessee last week.
Tennessee landed Ian Duarte after losing Gavin Freeman to Baylor
Tennessee landed a commitment from Oklahoma State wide receiver/returner Gavin Freeman earlier this month.
Freeman, however, flipped his transfer commitment to Baylor earlier this month. The belief is that he simply had a better opportunity with Baylor. There’s no bad blood — Freeman’s dad, Jason, is a former Oklahoma tight end who has a connection to Vols head coach Josh Heupel via the Sooners.
With Freeman heading elsewhere, the Vols showed interest in Duarte, presumably as a depth wide receiver and a kick/punt returner. Duarte returned 11 punts and 13 kicks at Idaho State last season.
Depth additions aren’t necessarily sexy, but they’re important. Duarte gives the Vols another experienced wide receiver who can also provide value on special teams.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel goes viral during visit to the school that Peyton Manning’s son Marshall attends
A not-so-flattering photo of Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel went viral this week.
