By Skeeter Smith
It seemed as though the Vols took a step back offensively this year with the departures of key players like Jalin Hyatt and Hendon Hooker. Tennessee struggled at times to get the ball in the end zone and didn’t resemble the team we had become accustomed to. This will be a crucial offseason for the Vols to add talent and get back on track.
Tight End:
As it stands, the Vols would be entering the 2024 season with only one scholarship tight end on the roster. With no tight end commits in the 2024 class, Tennessee is going to have to hit the portal hard to find some depth at that position. Both Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes and Kentucky transfer Jordan Dingle are said to be high on the list of priority targets for that position. Another name the Vols have been in contact with is Southeastern Louisiana transfer Bauer Sharp.
Defensive Back:
Tennessee has had six DBs enter the transfer portal since it opened up last week. The Vols will lose two more to graduation at the end of the bowl season, pushing that number up to eight departures from that position group. As Tennessee shifts to a younger secondary, they will still look to bring in someone with some experience to deepen that room. Freshman All-American Jermod McCoy from Oregon State has already visited Tennessee but has a ton of offers from schools all over. Tennessee has also been in talks with Idaho transfer Marcus Harris and Villanova transfer Devon Marshall.
Wide Receiver:
The Vols’ receiver room was plagued with injuries this season, leaving them very thin at that position towards the tail end of the year. They will look to add a body or two this portal cycle to deepen up that room a bit. This was also a unit that struggled to make plays on the outside, especially once Bru McCoy went down, so look for Tennessee to try and get a playmaker or two that can stretch the field. Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell looks to be at the top of their board as he took a visit earlier this week.
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Defensive End:
Tyler Baron had his best season with the Vols this year, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss to go along with 6 sacks, so it was shocking news to many to see him go into the transfer portal. While Tennessee has a lot of talent in that position, it’s very young and inexperienced. They will look to add a veteran to bring some depth to that room. Texas A&M transfer Fadil Diggs is a player that Tennessee has been in heavy conversation with early and hopes to get on campus
