Tennessee is receiving a transfer visit that signals the Vols are about to lose one of their top young players to the portal
The Tennessee Vols could be on the verge of losing a talented young player.
The Tennessee Vols could be on the verge of losing one of their top young players to the transfer portal.
Tennessee wasn’t expected to be in the market for a transfer tight end this offseason, which is why it’s somewhat surprising that Georgia Bulldogs transfer tight end Pearce Spurlin is reportedly visiting the Vols.
Spurlin is a former four-star recruit who underwent open-heart surgery in August. The Florida native was cleared to return to action after undergoing surgery, but he’s not eligible to return to Georgia.
Why is Tennessee hosting a transfer tight end?
The Vols could just be looking for added tight end depth with Spurlin.
It’s also possible that Spurlin is a replacement for a player on the roster that hasn’t entered the portal yet.
There are rumblings that Vols true freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer, a former four-star recruit from Texas, could be hitting the transfer portal this week.
“They (Tennessee) probably need to add a tight end,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “Because the notion is that Jack Van Dorselaer may end up going to the portal.”
Van Dorselaer is a talented player who saw action in some key moments for Tennessee early in his true freshman season.
The Texas native was on the field as a blocker for Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar’s game-tying touchdown run against Mississippi State (Tennessee went on to win the game in overtime).
Van Dorselaer, who played only one snap in Tennessee’s loss to Vanderbilt in the regular season finale, finished the season with just five receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown.
With Ethan Davis set to return in 2026, and fellow true freshman tight end DaSaahn Brame emerging as a receiving threat, it’s possible that Van Dorselaer — if he enters the portal as rumored — is simply looking for a better opportunity elsewhere.
Update:
Van Dorselaer is now in the portal.
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