Former Tennessee offensive lineman James Robinson entered the transfer portal on Apr. 22.
After spending the beginning stages of his collegiate career in Knoxville, Robinson officially made the announcement on Monday that he will be transferring to South Alabama.
“I KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED AND EXPECT FROM ME MA AND I WILL LIVE UP TO IT TO THE FULLEST I LOVE YOU MA,” Robinson said in a Twitter post with red hearts. “GO JAGS.”
Robinson, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, decided to enter the transfer portal after a two-year career in Knoxville that never quite got off the ground. With the transfer to South Alabama, Robinson will now be just half the distance to his hometown as opposed to when he was in Knoxville.
As a former three-star recruit in the 2020 class, Robinson was a big-time pickup for Tennessee that the Vols and head coach Jeremy Pruitt won on the recruiting trail. After arriving in Knoxville, Robinson wound up taking a redshirt year during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Then, in last year’s 2021 season, Robinson did not see the field following his debut in the season-opening contest against Bowling Green in Neyland Stadium.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Heupel and his coaching staff for providing me the opportunity to be a student-athlete at Tennessee,” Robinson said in his original announcement that he would be transferring away from Tennessee. “Football has always been a big part of my life and I thank the Lord for blessing me with the opportunity to play the game and compete at a high level. Over the past two seasons I have had the pleasure to make memories with teammates and developing that will last a life time. After personal reflection, discussions with my family and, many prayers, I have decided to enter the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility remaining. Thankyou, Vol nation.”
Robinson will be immediately eligible to play with South Alabama and will have three full years of eligibility remaining according to 247 Sports.
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James Robinson is one of 13 players to transfer away from Tennessee since 2022 began, and is also one of only four to have made their next move. The following is a list of all of Tennessee’s departing transfers since Jan. 1:
- RB Dee Beckwith
- LS Will Albright
- WR Andison Coby (Indiana)
- RB Fred Orr
- OT K’Rojhn Calbert (Eastern Kentucky)
- TE Trinity Bell (Iowa Western Community College)
- WR Kaemen Marley
- OL Chris Akporoghene
- CB Tyus Fields
- OL James Robinson (South Alabama)
- TE Julian Nixon
- LB Aaron Willis
- WR Deangelo Gibbs
I KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED AND EXPECT FROM ME MA AND I WILL LIVE UP TO IT TO THE FULLEST I LOVE YOU MA 💔 GO JAGS❤️ @Madhousefit @KaneWommack #LLMAMA#LLGRANNY pic.twitter.com/ufz1tfnojW
— James Robinson (@JamesRobinsonn_) May 23, 2022
