Here are three Tennessee Vols in transfer portal who will be missed most
Look up to see that the sky is not falling. It's still up there.
Several Tennessee players are beelining for the transfer portal. That might seem unnerving. Look around, though, and you'll see this is happening at programs across the country.
This exodus is not a UT problem. It's simply a reflection of the state of college football, where immediate eligibility for transfers and portal windows results in a flurry of outbound players each December.
While Tennessee is losing some quantity, it is retaining most of its quality. Even so, there are a few outbound Vols whose absence could be felt in 2024.
On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks assess Tennessee's defections and preview what's needed from inbound transfers. They also assess Josh Heupel's strategy as it pertains to juggling transfers with recruiting high school talent, and they weigh in on Tennessee's 2024 recruiting class that ranks 14th nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The December signing period begins Dec. 20.
TRANSFER TRACKER:A look at who's leaving the Tennessee Vols via portal
ADAMS:Why Tennessee football QB Nico Iamaleava could become recruiting exception
TOPPMEYER:In explaining Alabama football over FSU, CFP committee becomes a kangaroo court
As it pertains to Vols who have declared for the transfer portal, here are three Tennessee might miss most:
– Tyler Baron (defensive end): We're not surprised Baron's 2024 plans don't include Tennessee. We just figured he'd be NFL-bound after he logged six sacks among his 10½ tackles for loss this season, his fourth year in the program. This still might end with Baron going pro, if the transfer market doesn't yield an NIL deal too good to turn down. Regardless of whether Baron goes pro or transfers, the Vols will miss his pass rush.
– Tamarion McDonald (defensive back): The Vols are losing several veteran members of the secondary who were holdovers from the Jeremy Pruitt era. Some of those defections aren't much of a loss, but McDonald, who started at nickelback, was a productive player. Pro Football Focus ranked McDonald as Tennessee's second-best defensive back in 2023 behind Kamal Hadden, whose season was cut short by injury. McDonald's exit is part of an offseason transition to youth in UT's secondary.
– Doneiko Slaughter (defensive back): Slaughter was a Swiss Army knife in Tennessee's secondary. He played a lot of snaps throughout his Vols career. Once again, though, this is a nod to Tennessee transitioning away from the Pruitt leftovers and into the era of Heupel players, for better or worse.
Also on this episode
– Should Tennessee rely more on building its program through transfers or high school recruits? In this particular offseason, transfers will be critical.
– Veteran linebacker Keenan Pili's return to Tennessee in 2024 – he'll be a seventh-year senior – takes some pressure off Tennessee's need to address that position in the portal. Still, the Vols have a long transfer wish list. Many of the top needs are on offense.
Where to listen to The Volunteer State
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist. John Adams is the News Sentinel's senior columnist. Adam Sparks covers the Vols. You can subscribe to read all their coverage, or check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. They also host the lightly acclaimed "SEC Football Unfiltered" podcast.