The Tennessee Vols suddenly have a new transfer need that will need to be addressed when the portal opens
The Tennessee Vols will likely target numerous positions in the NCAA transfer portal.
The Tennessee Vols have a new transfer portal need following some news that broke on Sunday.
On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported on Sunday afternoon that Vols sophomore running back Peyton Lewis plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
Lewis, a former four-star recruit from Salem, VA, rushed for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns during his two seasons at Tennessee. He also caught eight passes for 56 yards.
Tennessee will need to add a transfer running back when the portal opens
Running back was already a position that Tennessee was likely going to evaluate in the portal, but the decision from Lewis to transfer solidifies the Vols’ need for another running back.
With Lewis set to transfer and Star Thomas out of eligibility, the Vols have running backs DeSean Bishop, Daune Morris, and Justin Baker currently at the top of the depth chart for the 2026 season.
Bishop led the Vols’ backfield with 983 rushing yards during the 2025 regular season. Morris rushed for 133 yards on 35 carries, and Baker rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries (Morris and Baker were both true freshmen in 2025).
It’s too early to forecast who the Vols may target at running back in the transfer portal, but there’s no doubt that Tennessee’s offense is at its best when it has a dynamic play-maker at running back (such as Jaylen Wright or Dylan Sampson). Bishop held down the No. 1 running back role well for the Vols in 2025, but Tennessee would undoubtedly be a better team in 2026 if they can add an elite talent to their running back room.
Some of the top options currently set to transfer are NC State running back Hollywood Smothers and Washington running back Adam Mohammed.
Smothers took two unofficial visits to Tennessee as a high school recruit in 2021.
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