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15 hours ago
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Tennesee head football coach Josh Heupel isn’t looking to spend big on the transfer portal this offseason. As The Knoxville News Sentinel’s Adam Sparks notes, the Volunteers are more focused on their loaded incoming 2025 high school class.
“Take a second glance at those numbers. UT lost a combined 25 scholarship players from its senior class (13) and the portal (12),” Sparks wrote.
“It replenished that with 25 high school recruits in the 2025 signing class.
“So if you’re waiting for the Vols to replace all their veteran players through the portal, you may be looking in the wrong place. The math says UT already decided to go younger by stocking the 2025 roster with freshmen rather than a large haul of transfers.
“UT will still add transfers at key positions of need. But don’t expect every hole to be plugged through the portal.”
After being dominated by Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff, focusing on the Volunteers’ high school class could seem like some to be a concession that the program isn’t ready to win it all just yet.
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah certainly doesn’t think so. Jeyarajah labeled Tennessee a “bubble team” after being embarrassed by the Buckeyes, 42-17.
The Vols had arguably the worst performance out of any team in the CFP, but it's not fully their fault. Tennessee had to play against a powerhouse Ohio State team, perhaps the best overall roster in the country. The Buckeyes were mad as hell after losing the finale against Michigan and finally rounded into form. Unfortunately, Tennessee looked far more like a bubble squad than the national contender it hoped to be. In fact, the Vols don't look anywhere close,” Jeyarajah wrote.
Heupel playing the long game would probably not be too popular on Rocky Top. Especially not with Nico Iamaleava proving that he can keep this team competitive – at least within the conference.
Things change quickly in college football. We'll see if Heupel sticks to his guns on this one.
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