Transfer Portal Predictions for Tennessee: The Vols find a dynamic QB and add a game changer on defense

The Tennessee Vols will likely be active in the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The NCAA transfer portal is set to open on Jan. 2, and the Tennessee Vols are among the programs expected to be highly active.

Tennessee could use a quarterback, multiple defensive linemen, a running back, a linebacker, and a couple of defensive backs.

It’s unclear if the Vols will be able to address all of those needs via the transfer portal, but Tennessee will almost certainly evaluate multiple options at each of those positions

5 transfer portal predictions for the Tennessee Vols

Teams aren’t allowed to speak to transfer players until the portal officially opens on Jan. 2.

Tampering (via agents/advisers) is, of course, happening behind the scenes. But because schools can’t directly talk to players until the portal opens, information is limited on who could land where.

But that won’t stop us from making a few transfer predictions for the Volunteers, based on intel, nuggets, and informed speculation.

Alonza Barnett III, QB, James Madison

One of the biggest mysteries in college football right now centers around the Vols and their quarterback plan for the 2026 season. Tennessee will pursue a quarterback, but no one is quite sure how aggressively they’ll pursue a top option.

Barnett, who attended the same high school as rising Vols true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, has one season of eligibility remaining, which fits what Tennessee is looking for in a transfer quarterback. The Greensboro, NC native passed for 2,806 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2025.

He also rushed for 589 yards and 15 touchdowns. Barnett’s coach at James Madison, Bob Chesney, recently became the head coach at UCLA. With former Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava set to return to UCLA in 2026, it’s unlikely that Barnett will follow Chesney to the West Coast.

Keaton Thomas, LB, Baylor

Tennessee needs a linebacker with Arion Carter off to the NFL. VolQuest’s Austin Price pointed out on Tuesday, during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will, that Tennessee is taking a “hard look” at the Baylor transfer linebacker.

Thomas, a former three-star recruit from Jacksonville, FL, totaled 99 tackles, a sack, three passes defensed, and an interception in 2025. 

Hollywood Smothers, RB, NC State

Tennessee needs to add a transfer running back with sophomore Peyton Lewis set to enter the portal when it opens later this week (the Vols didn’t sign a running back during the 2026 recruiting cycle). There will be plenty of options for the Vols to consider.

Smothers, who took two unofficial visits to Tennessee as a high school recruit in 2021, could be an interesting fit. The Charlotte native rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns last season. He also caught 37 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Price noted on Tuesday that Smothers is a player who “very well could end up visiting Tennessee when the portal opens up”.

Tawfiq Byard, S, Colorado

The Vols could use several defensive backs — specifically safeties. Tennessee made one of the biggest portal additions of the 2025 transfer cycle by landing cornerback Colton Hood from Colorado last spring. So why not revisit the Colorado pipeline for more defensive back help?

Byard, who is the younger brother of Chicago Bears defensive back Kevin Byard, totaled 79 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception in 2025.

Mateen Ibirogba, DL, Wake Forest

Tennessee badly needs to land some defensive line talent out of the transfer portal. The Vols are set to lose key defensive linemen this offseason, such as Bryson Eason, Dominic Bailey, and Jaxson Moi.

Ibirogba, who has one season of eligibility remaining, was one of the best defensive linemen in the ACC last season, totaling 21 tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. The Wake Forest transfer won’t be cheap — he’ll likely command at least seven figures — but he’d fill a massive need for the Volunteers.

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