Portal season is among us.

The NCAA transfer portal window officially opened on Jan. 2, opening the door for new opportunities. It remains open until Jan. 16, barring unforeseen circumstances for individual athletes — with this being the only opportunity after the elimination of the spring portal.

Tennessee football has seen its fair share of success stories with the modern transfer portal. During the 2025 season, it reeled in multiple starters, including quarterback Joey Aguilar, corner Colton Hood, center Sam Pendleton and guard Wendell Moe Jr.

But what the portal gives, the portal also takes away. No loss was bigger than Miami transfer Jakobe Thomas. The Vols’ safeties struggled in 2025, while Thomas is thriving on a Hurricanes College Football Playoff squad.

Here’s how the portal movement shapes out for Tennessee football.

This story will be updated with new information as it comes out

Players coming to Tennessee football from the portal

Qua Moss, defensive back — Kansas State (Jan. 4)

Tennessee’s first portal commitment comes from one of the biggest positions of need.

Kansas state safety Qua Moss committed to the Vols on Jan. 4, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound defender recorded 41 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a pass deflection this season as a junior. He spent a year at Dodge Community College and a year at West Georgia prior to Kansas State. This will be his fourth school in four years, making him a true senior.

Moss recorded a 68.4 PFF grade across 513 snaps this year. He is ranked as the No. 27 safety in the portal.

Players leaving Tennessee football in the portal

William Satterwhite, offensive lineman 

Satterwhite underwent an offseason battle for the starting center position, ultimately coming up short to Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton. He played 137 snaps this season, appearing in eight games at center.

It’s another blow to the offensive line depth, as Satterwhite had the potential to push for the starting center role once more this offseason. Instead, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman will move on after two years.

Jayden Loftin, edge rusher

Tennessee’s first 2025 recruit to enter the portal comes by way of Loftin.

The 4-star recruit from New Jersey redshirted this season and will have all four years of eligibility at his next school.

Emmanuel Okoye, edge rusher

Tennessee’s international pathway addition, Okoye, is moving on after not finding an opportunity with the Vols in three seasons.

Okoye came to Tennessee via the NFL Academy in London. He is an athletic specimen at 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, but could not find a role between playing tight end and on the defensive line. He played in eight games and made one tackle.

Max Gilbert, kicker — Arkansas (Jan. 4)

The Memphis, Tenn., native endured a career surrounded by negativity. Now, he’s searching for a place to cleanse his resume.

Gilbert struggled when the pressure was on his most in his two years at Tennessee. He went 34-of-45 during his time, including a 14-for-19 mark this season. He is most notably remembered for missing a 43-yard kick against Georgia that would’ve given the Vols a win over the No. 6 Bulldogs.

Rickey Gibson III, cornerback

A breakout corner in his lone season as a starter, Gibson will be looking for a place to reset.

The Alabama native started 12 games as a sophomore opposite Jermod McCoy. Expected to take a major leap in his junior year, Gibson made it less than a quarter after suffering a season-ending arm injury against Syracuse.

In the spring, Gibson had flirted with the idea of entering the portal, according to reports. This time, he officially does.

Amari Jefferson, wide receiver 

A two-sport star at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Jefferson has not figured it out at the college level yet, with injuries as his biggest threat.

The redshirt freshman appeared in two games with Tennessee and only managed four total snaps. He picked up a medical redshirt at Alabama, and did not appear in enough games to burn the standard redshirt this season, so he has all four years remaining for his next school.

He was a one-time Tennessee baseball commit.

Colin Brazzell, defensive back

The brother of soon-to-be NFL Draft pick Chris Brazzell II, Colin has not seen his time come as a walk-on. With his brother moving on, the younger Brazzell will too.

He appeared in two games with the Vols and recorded one tackle in 2024.

Braylon Harmon, wide receiver

Another product of Knoxville Catholic, Harmon saw a solid bit of action as a walk-on.

He participated as the kick returner on two occasions in the Vols’ Music City Bowl loss to Illinois. Otherwise, he recorded one catch for 41 yards against UAB this season.

Lance Heard, offensive tackle

Tennessee’s starting left tackle for the last two seasons elected to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 1.

Heard, a former 5-star lineman and LSU transfer, started 23 games over the last two seasons, including all 13 this past season. He played 887 snaps, allowing two sacks as Joey Aguilar’s blindside protector.

His exit comes with the shift of true freshman tackle David Sanders Jr., inevitably moving to his natural position on the left side in 2026.

Bennett Warren, offensive tackle

One of Tennessee’s top reserve linemen, Warren appeared in 18 games after being a 4-star recruit in the 2024 class.

He never earned a start in his two years at Tennessee. Warren was a featured man on extra points, and saw his last field action as the injured man on Tennessee’s extra point after Joakim Dodson returned a 94-yard kick against Illinois in the Music City Bowl.

Tommy Winton III, wide receiver
A Knoxville Catholic product and former ETSU transfer, Winton never carved out a role more than a deep reserve as a walk-on.

Winton recorded three receptions for 26 yards this season.

Max Anderson, offensive lineman

Anderson played a minimal role on Glen Elarbee’s offensive line.

The former 4-star from Texas was an interior center option, but was the odd man out from a battle between Sam Pendleton and William Satterwhite. He recorded 76 snaps at guard this season, along with 47 snaps in his true freshman year.

Herb Gray, defensive lineman

Gray was buried in a young, deep defensive line room.

The redshirt defensive end did not appear in any games during his true freshman year, but appeared in two games this season. He recorded his only career tackle in a win over ETSU on Sept. 6.

Trevor Duncan, offensive lineman

Another Knoxville Catholic product, Duncan stepped away from the team this fall.

The versatile lineman experienced a taste of both sides of the ball throughout practices, but was unable to earn a role before he stepped away. He returns to football, entering the portal looking for a new opportunity.

Peyton Lewis, running back

Tennessee ran a three-man committee in the backfield this season, and the back-end runner will be leaving.

Lewis ran the ball just 70 times this season, but was used heavily in the red zone — picking up seven rushing touchdowns. He went for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns across his two seasons.

Jake Merklinger, quarterback

The backup to Aguilar is searching for a new home.

Merklinger battled Aguilar throughout the fall for the starting gig, but after falling out of the running, he failed to earn significant playing time through the year, either. Merklinger neared getting passed up by true freshman George MacIntyre, and with Faizon Brandon coming in the recruiting class, he opted to find a new home with an opportunity to compete for the starting gig.

Merklinger went 13-for-24 with 173 yards and two touchdowns across three games in 2025.

Marcus Goree Jr., defensive back

Goree got smothered in a young defensive back room.

The Bradley Central product appeared in four games over two years. He maintains two tackles to his name and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Brenden Anes, linebacker

The youth also pushed Anes down the depth chart.

Hailing from Page High School, the mid-state linebacker fell behind fellow classmates Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon — along with veterans already established — unable to see the light. He played 12 games, mostly on special teams, while recording five tackles.

Kellen Lindstrom, edge rusher

Lindstrom could not move his way up the depth chart in two years with the Vols.

The Springfield, Mo., native played in six games during his tenure, recording six total tackles. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Jamal Wallace, defensive lineman

Wallace’s junior college tape is one of the more unique to put on. A now-6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive lineman was used all over the field in the JUCO ranks — with an emphasis at safety. But that versatility did not translate.

He benefitted from an early-season injury to Jaxson Moi, but was unable to take advantage. After earning bulk snaps to start the year, Wallace fell behind and eventually entered the portal on Dec. 1.

Wallace recorded four tackles in six games this season, playing in just one of the final seven regular-season games. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Boo Carter, defensive back

Carter and Tennessee parted ways on Nov. 16.

The sophomore defensive back was a heavily utilized player during his freshman year, but offseason drama bled into the regular season — and both parties elected it would be best if he did not return.