Tennessee lands standout WR/return specialist from Big 12 team
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Tennessee is looking for any way to add talent to its roster in the aftermath of a 5-loss season.
On Saturday night, Josh Heupel‘s program did just that by getting a commitment from Oklahoma State redshirt junior transfer Gavin Freeman, who will add to the Volunteers’ offense and special teams in 2026. Freeman is only 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, but he was the Cowboys’ leading receiver this past season, catching 53 passes for 481 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025.
Freeman was also a return specialist at Oklahoma State, so his value to the Vols should come in multiple facets this fall. The Oklahoma City native heads from the Big 12 to the SEC and represents Tennessee‘s 9th commitment from the transfer portal since it opened officially on Jan. 2.
Appearing in a combined 15 games for Oklahoma State during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Freeman did most of his damage this past season but totaled 59 catches for 526 yards and 4 TDs during his time in Stillwater.
Freeman added 207 kick return yards and 99 punt return yards at Oklahoma State.
His transfer to Knoxville continues a whirlwind collegiate journey for Freeman, who began his college career with 2 seasons at in-state rival Oklahoma in 2022 and 2023. Freeman appeared in a combined 26 games for the Sooners during those 2 years, catching 22 passes for 141 yards and 1 touchdown.
Freeman was a legacy at Oklahoma, too, being the son of former Sooners tight end Jason Freeman. But he had to earn his way onto the team at Oklahoma, being a walk-on before earning a scholarship for the spring 2023 semester.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
