A hectic morning in the transfer portal for Tennessee continues, as the Volunteers have plugged up two holes on the roster. Josh Heupel grabbed a commitment from South Alabama tight end Trent Thomas, then
quickly heard from Tulane running back Javin Gordon.
The back to back commitments are Tennessee’s third and fourth of the day, joining Michigan cornerback Tevin Metcalf and West Virginia offensive guard Donovan Haslam
.Thomas will take the spot of Jack Van Doreslaer, who entered the portal this week and quickly committed to Jason Witten and Oklahoma. He is coming off of his sophomore season with the Jaguars, where he caught four passes for 34 yards. The 6-5, 254 pound tight end will likely operate in a role similar to Van Dorselaer’s, which was primarily run blocking.
Thomas was a 3-star prospect in the class of 2023, coming out of Mobile, Alabama.
And finally, Tennessee finds a running back. The Volunteers badly needed another piece of the puzzle there with Star Thomas exiting and Peyton Lewis heading to Virginia. Tulane’s Javin Gordon will fill that need fresh off of his freshman season. That Tulane to Tennessee connection has worked well in recent years, with Chris Brazzell turning into a star this past season.
Gordon ran for 516 yards this season on 128 carries. The 5-10, 200 pounder also added 13 catches for 93 yards. Gordon handled the most carries of any back on the Tulane roster, operating in tandem with Jamauri McClure.
Tennessee now has four running backs that figure to see action in 2026. DeSean Bishop will obviously lead the way, coming off of a big 2025 season which saw him go over 1,000 yards again. Assuming no injuries, Bishop is a good bet to repeat that performance. Gordon provides some much-needed depth, with Daune Morris and Justin Baker also in the mix. Morris got his feet wet late in the year, but was hurt in the Music City Bowl which spoiled a chance to him to showcase himself for the 2026 season.
Tennessee’s remaining needs in the transfer portal
- Quarterback
- Defensive line
- Cornerback
