The Athletic has come out with its top 100 impact transfers in college football this season with eight former Tennessee football players and one new Tennessee football player making the list.
Tennessee was hit harder by the transfer portal than any other team and while a plethora of players weren’t major contributors, The Athletic’s list shows the Vols will still miss plenty of their departing players.
Running back Eric Gray and linebacker Henry To’o To’o headlined the list, coming in at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively.
Gray ran for 772 yards and four touchdowns in 2020 before transferring to Oklahoma. To’o To’o recorded 47 tackles in the 10 game season. The Vols’ leading tackler transferred to Alabama this spring.
Grad transfer running back, and Gray’s backup, Ty Chandler comes in at No. 13 on the list despite a disappointing final season in Knoxville. The former Montgomery Bell Academy standout will look to end his college career on a high note at North Carolina.
Outside linebacker Deandre Johnson was one of the first Tennessee players to enter the transfer portal following the end of the season, deciding to play his final season closer to home at Miami. The Vols’ 2020 sack leader lands at No. 15 on The Athletic’s list.
Offensive tackle Wanya Morris and defensive back Key Lawrence joined Gray in transferring to Oklahoma. Morris comes in at No. 47 on the list while the sophomore Lawrence comes in at No. 48. Gray and Morris both earned preseason All Big 12 honors Wednesday.
Rounding out the Tennessee transfers on the list were linebacker Quavaris Crouch (No. 69) and offensive tackle Jahmir Johnson (No. 84). Crouch transferred to Michigan State while Johnson chose Texas A&M for his final season of eligibility.
Incoming transfer quarterback Joe Milton was the only incoming Vol to land on the list at No. 91. Milton threw for 1,077 yards while throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions in five games last season.
Top incoming transfers Juwan Mitchell (62 tackles in 2020) and DaJon Terry (14 tackles, two sacks) were not included on the list.
Kansas transfer Karon Prunty— who chose South Carolina over Tennessee last week— lands at No. 49 on the list.
