Two Vol players put their names in the NCAA transfer portal earlier this week. On Wednesday, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt confirmed that a third player will no longer be part of the team moving forward either.
Junior linebacker Will Ignont has decided to leave the team per “personal reasons” according to head coach Jeremy Pruitt during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. Ignont joins fellow junior linebacker Shanon Reid and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jacquez Jones as Vols to seek a transfer this week.
It was reported early Saturday morning before Tennessee’s match-up with No. 9 Florida that Ignont would not play in the game. After the game, Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt explained why offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson didn’t travel with the team, but he failed to address why Ignont was absent.
Ignont had been a key piece in Tennessee’s linebacker room through the first three weeks of the season, but senior Daniel Bituli’s return helped stabilize that group two weeks ago, and Ignont’s playing dropped after Bituli’s return.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound inside linebacker played a lot and started for Tennessee through the first two weeks of the season in Bituli’s absence. He recorded a season-high eight tackles against BYU in the Vols’ Week 2 loss to the Cougars after totaling seven tackles and a pass breakup in Tennessee’s season opener against Georgia State.
Through three games this season, Ignont had 16 tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
The Huntsville, Alabama linebacker has played in 21 career games with the Vols counting his three contests this season, and he made two starts prior to this season. In those 21 appearances, Ignont has totaled 68 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a pass defended.
With both Ignont’s and Reid’s departures from the team, Tennessee is left with 11 scholarship linebackers on the roster.
