Vols transfer addition with a famous relative isn’t getting talked about enough even though he’s going to be an ‘anchor’ for UT in 2026
One of the Tennessee Vols’ offseason transfer additions is surprisingly flying under the radar during fall camp, even though he’s going to be an important player in 2026.
One of Tennessee’s offseason transfer additions is flying under the radar ahead of the season even though he’s expected to be an “anchor” for the Vols in 2026.
Transfer safety TJ Metcalf, who started his career at Arkansas before spending a season at Michigan, is going to be one of Tennessee’s starting safeties this fall.
Outside of his spot on the depth chart, there hasn’t been much said this offseason about Metcalf — who is cousins with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf — but he’s a big reason why Tennessee’s secondary is expected to be much-improved under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
“The guy we don’t talk about back there as a transfer is TJ Metcalf from Michigan,” said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs this week on WNML’s SportsTalk. “Because the assumption from the get-go is that he was going to be the starter, and he has done nothing to diminish that at all. It’s just you kind of look at him and go, ‘Yeah, he’s a starter,’ and you move on to whoever this next guy is. For TJ Metcalf, he is an anchor back there at safety. I think Tennessee feels really good about their top two safeties (Metcalf and Edrees Farooq).”
Hubbs added during an appearance on Wednesday on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will that Metcalf’s had a great start in fall camp.
The secondary has been an issue for the Vols at times in recent years, but Vols head coach Josh Heupel thinks his secondary in 2026 could be the best one he’s had at Tennessee.
“I think overall athletic traits, this has a chance to be one of, if not the best, secondaries that we’ve had,” said Heupel in July.
As for Metcalf, it’s interesting that he ended up at Tennessee. The Vols were actually the first team to offer him back in 2021.
Who knew that a recruiting relationship from 2021 would pay off five years later for the Volunteers.
