Mass exodus: 2 more top Tennessee players enter the transfer portal
Tennessee’s next coach has a tall task ahead as the program’s most talented players continue to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Standout linebacker Henry To’o To’o and veteran offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson were the first two portal entrants reported Wednesday. It didn’t take long for two more huge names to enter the portal. Linebacker Quavaris Crouch and running back Eric Gray are now also in the transfer portal.
Crouch was the No. 61 overall prospect nationally in the class of 2019 on the 247Sports Composite. He chose Tennessee over 19 other scholarship offers, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M. Clemson, Florida State and Michigan were the three schools he visited in addition to Tennessee.
At Tennessee, Crouch has played in 23 games, making 11 starts. This past season, he started all 10 games at middle linebacker, finishing third on the team with 57 tackles while also recording 3 quarterback hurries and 2 forced fumbles.
Gray was rated 4-stars and the No. 3 all-purpose back in the class of 2019 on the Composite. He had 23 other scholarship offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
Gray has played in all 23 Tennessee games over the last two seasons, making five starts. This past season, Gray led the team in rushing (157 carries,772 yards, 4 touchdowns) and had the second-most receptions (30) on the team.
Alright, someone pinch me. Just when you think it can’t get better. But wait, Cade Mays is coming back for another year. That should balance things out.
I think the Cade Mays thing is my favorite part of all this. Burned his UGA bridge hard, gonna lose draft clout by coming back now.
Cade Mays already lost draft clout.He regressed last year.
Am I right in thinking that a transfer counts as a scholarship but not as part of a recruiting class? For instance, AU only has like 12 signees, if they got a lot of the UT transfers, they could still sign a full class, as long as they had the scholarships available in the 85. Is that correct?
Transfers count as a recruit. 25 limit. Sure going to make things interesting.
Thanks JTF. Yes it is. AU has a terrible class right now. It is going to naturally rise as they sign more, but so will a lot of others. Getting some transfers from UT would help. Both with numbers and experience. They may be able to get some of the recruits if UT releases them.
Outside of Gray and maybe Morris, not sure any are SEC caliber. To’To’ is a good run stopper, but only because he commits so hard to stop the run. He is a big liability on passing downs. Then again, how much real coaching have any of them gotten.
Not sure. Maybe ask your previous D Coordinator?