Tennessee is in the market for graduate transfer players at many positions. They’ve shown interest in several grad transfer quarterbacks and have visited a grad transfer offensive lineman as well. Now they’re reportedly contacting a grad transfer defensive tackle.
According to a report from 247Sports, the Vols have contacted grad transfer defensive lineman Preston Gordon of Rice. And another report indicates Tennessee isn’t the only SEC team interested in Gordon’s services.
Alabama is also interested in adding Gordon to their roster per a report from AL.com.
“If Alabama were interested, that’s a top tier program and I would definitely be interested,” Gordon said to Matt Zenitz of AL.com. “As a D-lineman, that’s where it’s at, so it would definitely be high, high interest.”
Gordon was a three-year starter at defensive tackle for Rice and had a fairly productive career for the Owls. In 35 games, Gordon totaled 87 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two passes defended.
At 6-foot-1, 280 pounds, Gordon would be ideal to play at nose tackle for the Vols’ new 3-4 defense. But by extension that means he would be a great fit for Alabama too. And it’s hard to beat out the Tide for defensive linemen in recruiting or in the graduate transfer market.
As a recruit, Gordon was rated as just a two-star coming out of high school. He was the No. 2,923 overall player in the 2014 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and Rice was his only major offer. But he ended up proving the scouting services wrong and turned out a solid career at Rice.
And now he’s looking to play one more season somewhere else.
Gordon isn’t the only grad transfer from Rice who the Vols have contacted. Tennessee’s coaches visited offensive lineman Calvin Anderson back in January, and he and Gordon were teammates at Rice the last three years.
