Tennessee football made significant secondary additions through the transfer portal after last season. You won’t know how significant until the season begins to unfold.
The Vols apparently landed three starters – Kayin Lee, Qua Moss, and TJ Metcalf. All three are familiar with Power Four competition.
Lee started at cornerback for Auburn. Moss, a safety, was Kansas State’s fifth-leading tackler. Metcalf, also a safety, was Michigan’s third-leading tackler.
They will join UT returning secondary starters Ty Redmond, who had three interceptions and 15 passes defended, and Edrees Farooq, who had 76 tackles and forced four fumbles.
So, Tennessee will field a more experienced secondary this season. Lee, Moss and Metcalf are all seniors.
That bodes well
for this season. It also tells you that the Vols could need help from the transfer portal in assembling their next secondary.
Roster management is like recruiting. It’s a year-round deal. Even though this season is still a few weeks away, Tennessee must look ahead at whom it expects to lose off its depth chart, but also identify possible portal additions for next season.
Tennessee's future offense is promising. That’s a testament to the recruiting of coach Josh Heupel and his staff, who have signed four five-star offensive players in the past two classes and already have a commitment from five-star running back David Gabriel Georges for 2027.
Tennessee’s next defense isn’t so star-studded. That’s one reason why the recruitment of transfers could prove vital.
It’s also a reason to notice how younger defensive players develop this season. Past Tennessee teams have had more experienced depth in the defensive line. But there’s potential beyond the starting defensive front.
UT signed three four-star defensive linemen in its 2025 recruiting class. Ethan Utley, Mariyon Dye, and Isaiah Campbell. So could Christian Gass, a four-star linebacker who is now an edge rusher on Tennessee's defensive front.
The Vols also signed a promising group of defensive linemen in the 2026 class. Carter Gooden and Kedric Golston are among the freshmen who will have a chance to prove themselves in preseason practice.
Tennessee has four veteran linebackers, but its linebacking could be bolstered by past signing classes. Sophomore Jadon Perlotte, a four-star signee in 2025, had 19 tackles and two fumble recoveries in a reserve role. Jaedon Harmon, another sophomore, could earn more playing time this season. Both Perlotte and Harmon could be competing for starting positions in 2027.
The Vols also signed a couple of four-star linebackers – TJ White and Brayden Rouse – in the 2026 recruiting class.
The future of the secondary would look brighter if sophomores Tre Poteat, Timothy Merritt and Dylan Lewis show potential this season as backups.
Also, keep in mind: Tennessee’s 2027 defense could benefit from the NCAA’s new rule that will allow players to play up to five seasons in a five-year period. Moss, Metcalf and Lee would have that option.
If those players don’t return next season, the Vols could look to the transfer portal – just as they did last January – to fortify their secondary.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football needs depth on defense. Sophomore class could help | Adams
