On Monday, redshirt junior offensive lineman Ryan Johnson announced he would be transferring off Tennessee’s roster. On Tuesday, another Vol offensive lineman has reportedly joined Johnson on the transfer market.
Per a report from 247Sports, redshirt junior lineman Marcus Tatum has put his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Tatum is the third Vol to announce his intention to transfer after the end of the regular season, joining Johnson and freshman wide receiver Jerrod Means.
Tatum appeared in all 12 of Tennessee’s regular season contests this year and started the first two games of the season at right tackle. He made a third start in the Vols’ contest against UAB in November.
The 6-foot-6, 316-pound lineman from Daytona Beach, Florida began the season as a starter for the Vols, but he was eventually unseated by five-star freshman Darnell Wright. Redshirt sophomore K’Rojhn Calbert has also played at right tackle this season.
Tatum joined the Vols as an undersized offensive tackle project in the Butch Jones era. Tatum signed with Tennessee as a three-star prospect in the 2016 class and played in two games due to the rash of injuries the Vols suffered along the offensive line. At only 265 pounds, Tatum was far from ready for game action, but he played against Alabama and Tennessee Tech as a freshman.
As a sophomore in 2017, Tatum played in four games and made three starts before suffering an injury and taking a medical redshirt in the second half of the season. Tatum played extensively in his redshirt sophomore year in 2018, appearing in all 12 games and starting five contests.
Tatum has added over 50 pounds of mass to his 6-foot-6 frame since joining the Vols, and he was praised by head coach Jeremy Pruitt this offseason for his hard work and dedication in the weight room and on the practice field.
Should Tatum stick with his decision to transfer, he’ll be a graduate transfer and should be able to play immediately for his final year of eligibility.
In his four years at Tennessee, Tatum appeared in 30 games and made 11 starts.
