6 transfers who should make an impact this college football season

Tennessee hasn’t finished a play ranked higher than 22nd since 2007, yet determination inactive figures to beryllium a dense Volunteer spirit to the playoff representation this year.

Or to enactment it much accurately, an ex-Volunteer flavor.

While the transportation portal was peculiarly progressive during the astir caller offseason, nary squad mislaid much prima powerfulness than Tennessee, which fired manager Jeremy Pruitt successful January erstwhile schoolhouse officials said an interior probe recovered superior NCAA violations.

Three teams ranked successful the apical 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 landed notable erstwhile Tennessee players.

No. 1 Alabama landed ex-Tennessee linebacker Henry To’o To’o. Running backmost Ty Chandler transferred from Tennessee to No. 10 North Carolina.

But the Tennessee beingness is astir notable astatine No. 2 Oklahoma. The Sooners person 3 erstwhile Vols successful moving backmost Eric Gray, antiaircraft backmost Key Lawrence and violative tackle Wanya Morris.

“Definitely for maine arsenic a moving back, the past of the ‘RBU,’ truthful galore large moving backs came done here, the past of the discourtesy astatine Oklahoma, conscionable the OU programme successful general, I was decidedly attracted to it from time one,” Gray said. “Once I got to the transportation portal, I benignant of knew Oklahoma was the schoolhouse I wanted to spell to.”

There are a fig of transfers who should marque an interaction this play and it’s nary astonishment this database features a mates of erstwhile Tennessee players:

NOTRE DAME QB JACK COAN (WISCONSIN)

Coan already has been named the starting backmost for No. 9 Notre Dame’s Sept. 5 play opener astatine Florida State. Coan made 18 starts for Wisconsin from 2018-19, but helium injured his close ft earlier the 2020 play and ne'er played for the Badgers again with Graham Mertz taking implicit the job. Coan completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,727 yards with 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions successful 2019 portion helping Wisconsin scope the Big Ten title crippled and Rose Bowl. Coan volition get a accidental to look his erstwhile squad Sept. 25, erstwhile the Fighting Irish look No. 12 Wisconsin astatine Chicago’s Soldier Field.

OKLAHOMA RB ERIC GRAY (TENNESSEE)

Gray rushed for 772 yards and besides caught 30 passes for 254 yards successful 9 games past season. He rushed for 539 yards arsenic a freshman successful 2019. He closed the 2019 play by rushing for 246 yards against Vanderbilt and gaining 120 all-purpose yards and scoring the winning touchdown against Indiana successful the Gator Bowl. He was named the astir invaluable subordinate of the Gator Bowl. Gray should signifier a prime moving backmost tandem with Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks, who rushed for implicit 1,000 yards successful back-to-back years successful 2018 and 2019 earlier opting retired of the 2020 season.

KENTUCKY QB WILL LEVIS (PENN STATE)

Levis volition beryllium the starting backmost for Kentucky’s Sept. 4 play opener with Louisiana-Monroe. Levis appeared successful 15 games for Penn State and went 61 of 102 for 644 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Kentucky mightiness not beryllium the lone SEC East squad handing its starting backmost occupation to idiosyncratic who arrived by transportation this offseason. Tennessee’s backmost contention includes Michigan transportation Joe Milton and Virginia Tech transportation Hendon Hooker, arsenic good arsenic Harrison Bailey.

FLORIDA STATE QB McKENZIE MILTON (UCF)

Milton is simply a two-time American Athletic Conference violative subordinate of the twelvemonth who finished eighth successful the Heisman Trophy balloting successful 2017 and sixth successful 2018, but helium suffered ligament, nervus and artery harm to his genu successful November 2018 and hasn’t played successful a crippled since. Milton, who won his past 24 starts astatine UCF, present is attempting a comeback with Florida State and competing with Jordan Travis for the close to unfastened the play arsenic the Seminoles’ starting quarterback.

GEORGIA DB TYKEE SMITH (WEST VIRGINIA)

Smith was a third-team Associated Press All-America enactment for West Virginia past season. He had 61 tackles – 8 for nonaccomplishment – and 2 interceptions successful 10 games. Smith besides had 53 tackles and 2 interceptions arsenic a freshman successful 2019. Smith volition beryllium portion of a Georgia secondary that besides includes Clemson transportation Derion Kendrick.

ALABAMA LB HENRY TO’O TO’O (TENNESSEE)

To’o To’o was a two-year starter astatine Tennessee who recorded a team-high 76 tackles past season. He besides had 10 tackles for loss. He had 72 tackles arsenic a freshman successful 2019. Alabama manager Nick Saban says To’o To’o has benefited from his familiarity with the strategy aft playing astatine Tennessee for Pruitt, a erstwhile Alabama antiaircraft coordinator.