The Tennessee Vols, like most programs, lost several players to the NCAA transfer portal this winter. 

None of the players the Vols lost to the portal, however, were expected to be standout players for Tennessee in 2025. 

Except for one. 

The biggest transfer loss for Tennessee this offseason (so far) was easily defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins.

Jenkins, a former three-star recruit from New Jersey, was expected to be a key part of the Volunteers' defensive line rotation in 2025. 

But instead, Jenkins will be suiting up for the Florida State Seminoles in the fall. 

A Power-4 general manager told The Athletic this week that he thinks Jenkins is a future NFL talent if he lands in the right scheme. 

"Jayson Jenkins who signed with Florida State," said the general manager when asked which transfer player he liked the most that didn't sign with his program. "I think he’s an NFL defensive end in the right scheme. Big kid, 6-6, 280, movement skills, length, physicality. He’s nice."

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Jenkins, who spent the first three seasons of his career at Tennessee, totaled nine tackles and two sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. 

Those aren't gaudy numbers, but it's important to note that Jenkins was a player that received significant praise from Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner last spring. 

"Jayson is a blue-collar guy," said Garner last March. "He comes to work everyday with his lunch box. He puts in the work. You have seen that guy grow in leaps and bounds. He has truly taken steps where he can have a role in this defense. He has the respect of his peers because no one has given him anything. He's had to work for every little thing he's gotten. It's just like spring break. I am coming off knee surgery, so I had to come back and rehab. He didn't go anywhere. I am going in the training room and he is out there everyday working out, working on his get off, working on bags, just putting in the work. He is just a blue-collar guy that wants to be a part of it. He is prideful about it."

It seems like Jenkins is a player that Tennessee wanted to keep around, but there's only so much the Vols can do when other programs come calling. 

For the most part, Tennessee did extremely well in retaining their top players. Jenkins, though, is one that they almost certainly hated to see leave. 

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