Former starting Tennessee STAR safety Tamarion McDonald will not be heading to Ole Miss after all. According to a post on social media Monday night, McDonald will instead head to Louisville out of the transfer portal as he meets back up with former vol Wesley Walker.
— Tmac! (@tjdadonn) January 8, 2024
Walker, another former starting defensive back for Tennessee, announced his transfer to the Cardinals earlier on Monday. Walker also posted an edited graphic of himself and McDonald linking up in Louisville uniforms to Twitter/X.
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Walkdown x Slattmac👀🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/tyzw2jvZVA
— Wes Walk (@weswalkerr_) January 8, 2024
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McDonald started for Tennessee for two seasons before entering the transfer portal on December 13. Three days after entering the portal, McDonald emerged as a Rebel as he committed to Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin. Former Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron also committed to Ole Miss on the same day that McDonald did. Baron, at the time of this publication, still remains committed to Ole Miss.
McDonald suffered a season-ending injury against Missouri that forced him to miss the final two games of the season before entering the portal. Prior to that injury, though, McDonald tallied 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one sack, and five defended passes during the 2023 season.
The Memphis native had a total of 116 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, one sack, four interceptions, and 16 defended passes throughout his career on Rocky Top.
McDonald was ranked as the No. 25 safety in the transfer portal via On3 Sports. Walker, meanwhile, is the No. 21 ranked safety in the portal.
Both McDonald and Walker are joining a Jeff Brohm-led Louisville program that went 10-4 this past season with three straight losses to close the season: vs Kentucky, vs No. 4 Florida State, and vs USC in the Holiday Bowl.
