Austin Pope just couldn’t leave the Volunteers given the current status of the program.

Tennessee received plenty of hype during the previous offseason, only to fall on its face following a 2-0 start to the season. Tennessee’s 3-7 record has many wondering if Jeremy Pruitt’s days on Rocky Top are already numbered and when homegrown players like Pope decide to enter the transfer portal to finish out their college careers, the lack of stability in Knoxville is easily recognizable around the league.

Taking all of that into consideration, Pope has decided to turn down offers from the likes of Missouri, Illinois, Northwestern, according to Austin Price of Volquest, and return for his final season on Rocky Top.

Following that news, Jimmy Hyams of the Sports Animal in Knoxville shared the following statement from Pope regarding the tight end’s decision to return to the Vols.

“After considering a number of other excellent football programs, along with some unfortunate family circumstances, I have decided that my love for the University of Tennessee and its football program runs too deep to leave with so many loose ends. I have officially decided that I will withdraw from the transfer portal.

“The love I have for my own family, as well as my Vol family, has led me to this decision — UT is my home. It has always been my goal to leave this program better I found it.

“Were I to leave following this past season, I could not in good conscience says I was doing such – we are a better team than our 3-7 record shows, and I want to be able to say I gave my all for the University of Tennessee, something that I feel is impossible to do given my inability to participate last season due to injury. I want more for this football team and this university – my passion is to see success for Tennessee football, and I excitedly anticipate returning as a graduate for my final season this fall.”

Based on that statement, look for Pope to be one of the leaders for Tennessee’s football program in 2020.