Former Tennessee linebacker Jalen Smith committed to Mississippi State on Thursday morning just under two weeks after he announced plans to enter the transfer portal.
Smith landed on the the Freshman All-SEC team for his play in his redshirt freshman season at Tennessee. The Georgia native totaled 34 total tackles this season including a career-high nine in Tennessee’s victory over Kentucky.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker started the year as a third string linebacker but became a backup once Keenan Pili tore his ACL against Florida. In every game after Pili suffered his injury, Smith totaled 21-plus snaps and played 34-plus snaps in both the Kentucky and Georgia game.
Smith was a third down specialist for Tennessee and would play in obvious passing downs. His 66.3 PFF coverage grade was the second best of the Vols’ linebackers behind Kalib Perry.
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The redshirt freshman linebacker entering the transfer portal this offseason was unsurprising. Tennessee returns linebackers Arion Carter, Jeremiah Telander, Kalib Perry and Edwin Spillman next season and signed a talented recruiting class at linebacker including four-stars Christian Gass and Jaedon Harmon.
But Smith entering the portal and leaving the Tennessee program before the College Football Playoff was surprising. Freshman Edwin Spillman will replace Smith as Tennessee’s fourth linebacker but it is unclear which linebacker will replace Smith as the Vols’ third down specialist.
Smith is joining a Mississippi State team that was the SEC’s worst in 2024, posting a 2-10 (0-8 SEC) record including a 33-14 loss at Tennessee despite Nico Iamaleava not playing in the second half.
The Bulldogs are on Tennessee’s 2025 football schedule as Josh Heupel’s fifth Volunteer team will travel to Starkville to face Smith and Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 27. It’s Tennessee’s second SEC game on its 2025 schedule and its first SEC road game.
