Tennessee football: 2 players Volunteers must target the transfer portal

Take a look at two players Tennessee football must target in the transfer portal as they look to bounce back in 2024.

Tennessee football may have had a playoff team back in 2022 if it weren’t for Hendon Hooker tearing his ACL. The Vols led the country in yards per game on offense with 525.5 yards and also scored more than anybody. Their 46.2 points per game led the nation as well. But the Vols took a bit of a step back last season. With Hooker and star receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman off to the NFL, Tennessee’s offense dropped off pretty drastically. They went from averaging 46.2 points per game to 31.5. They averaged nearly 70 fewer yards per game on offense as well. An 8-4 season isn’t nothing, but it’s a far cry from the 11-2 season Tennesee enjoyed in 2022.

If Tennessee wants to get back to the top of the SEC and in the playoff conversation, they’re going to have to hit the transfer portal hard. They’ve had a successful track record doing so; all they have to do is point at Hendon Hooker, who the Vols got out of the portal from Virginia Tech. Tennessee is an attractive spot for players in the portal. The question then becomes: who should the Vols get from the portal to help their team?

DJ Uiagalelei, Quarterback

DJ Uiagalelei has already tried two shades of orange, so why not try a third? There were high expectations for Uiagalelei coming out of high school where he was poised to become the next great Clemson quarterback once Trevor Lawrence went to the NFL. It never quite clicked with Uiagelelei at Clemson, however. He threw for more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) during his first season at Clemson as a starter. His 2022 season was much better and arguably the best of his career so far, but he also ended up getting benched for current Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Uiagelelei transferred to Oregon State, but he still didn’t exactly take the next step. He did set a career-high in passing yards (2,638) and yards per attempt (8.4), but he also completed just 57.1% of his passes. Oregon State went just 8-4 on the year, which is a really solid season for them, but short of the expectations they set in the preseason.

Uiagalelei is in the portal again, and Tennessee football might just be the best spot for him. Tennessee rejuvenated Hendon Hooker when he entered the portal from Virginia Tech and now has an opening at quarterback with Joe Milton, another quarterback acquired out of the portal from Michigan, out of eligibility. Uiagelelei could be a fun and intriguing fit in Josh Huepel’s system. Tennessee should go after him.