‘That’s someone Tennessee’s been taking a hard look at’ – Vols are showing interest in coveted transfer player
The expectation is that the Tennessee Vols will be very active in the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
The Tennessee Vols are expected to be one of the more active teams in the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
Tennessee has several needs that need to be addressed in the portal. The Vols need a quarterback, a running back, a linebacker, a couple of defensive linemen, a couple of safeties, and maybe a cornerback.
Teams can’t technically communicate with transfer players until the portal opens on Jan. 2, so intel on who the Vols may be interested in is limited for now.
Tennessee is taking a look at Baylor transfer linebacker Keaton Thomas
One transfer player Tennessee is reportedly considering is Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas.
Thomas, a former three-star recruit from Jacksonville, FL, totaled 99 tackles, a sack, three passes defensed, and an interception in 2025. In 2024 at Baylor, Thomas finished with 106 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception.
VolQuest’s Austin Price joined 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Tuesday, and he mentioned that Tennessee is taking a “hard look” at Thomas.
“I think Tennessee would look to add a linebacker,” said Price. “Keaton Thomas at Baylor is someone Tennessee’s been taking a hard look at since he announced his intentions to go into the portal. That’s one I could see Tennessee getting in here for a visit and seeing where things go.
“You just don’t know what (new Vols defensive coordinator) Jim Knowles wants. How does he want to construct the defense? How does he want to rotate that position. That’s the position he’s coached individually himself for many years — up until when he got to Penn State. So I think a lot of it (transfer portal strategy) depends on what Jim Knowles wants to do.”
Tennessee could use some help at linebacker with Arion Carter heading to the NFL. The Vols have some promising young linebacker talent on the roster — Edwin Spillman and Jaden Perlotte, for example — but the team could use some experience at that position.
Tennessee could be getting NC State transfer running back Hollywood Smothers in for a visit
Another player that Price mentioned that could be a candidate to take a visit to Tennessee is NC State transfer running back Hollywood Smothers.
“Hollywood Smothers is somebody we talked about on VolQuest that I think very well could end up visiting Tennessee when the portal opens up later this week,” said Price.
Smothers, who took two unofficial visits to Tennessee as a high school recruit in 2021, rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Tennessee is in need of a transfer running back since Peyton Lewis is set to enter the portal.
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