After losing six receivers to the transfer portal in December, Tennessee football is actively looking for pass catchers in the transfer portal to bolster its lackluster passing attack ahead of 2025.
A new Tennessee target has emerged in Florida State transfer receiver Malik Benson. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Benson is lining up visits to both Oregon and Tennessee in the coming days.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver caught 25 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown last season for the Seminoles. With quarterback DJ Uiagalelei leading the way, Florida State’s passing attack was abysmal last season.
Despite his middling numbers, Benson finished second on the Seminoles in both catches and receiving yards during the 2024 season. His best game of the season came against Memphis when he caught five passes for 99 yards.
According to PFF, Benson earned a 59.7 grade in 437 snaps during the 2024 season. That grade would have been good enough to rank fifth amongst Tennessee’s receivers last season.
More From RTI: Tennessee Reportedly Hiring Former Oklahoma Quarterback As Offensive Analyst
Benson spent just one season in Tallahassee after transferring from Alabama to Florida State ahead of the 2024 season. In his lone season at Alabama, Benson caught 13 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.
The Lansing, Kansas native has an additional year of eligibility remaining thanks to the Diego Pavia court ruling that gives players that spent time at junior college an additional year of eligibility. Before his time at Alabama, Benson spent two seasons at Hutchinson Community College where he combined for 97 catches, 2,152 yards and 21 touchdowns.
With the current uncertainty involving eligibility for former junior college athletes, it’s uncertain whether Benson would have one or two years of eligibility at his next stop.
Tennessee is looking to reload at receiver after a mass exodus to the portal last month. As the Vols work to get Mike Matthews back in the fold, Tennessee has just two returning scholarship receivers from last season— rising senior Chris Brazzell and rising redshirt freshman Braylon Staley.
The Vols have been linked to Southern California transfer slot receiver Zachariah Branch as well as Benson as they look to add more capable bodies ahead of the 2025 season.
