Did Tennessee football roster get better or worse in transfer portal? It depends on position

Tennessee football lost more players in the transfer portal than it added.

In some instances, that could be addition by subtraction in retooling a position group. In other areas, the depth chart could be strained by the departures.

Another factor is potential scholarship cuts as a self-imposed penalty for NCAA violations allegedly committed under former coach Jeremy Pruitt. It appears there are 79 scholarship players projected for the 2022 season, well under the maximum 85 allotted by the NCAA.

Did UT upgrade or downgrade through the portal? Here’s where the Vols stand at key positions affected.

TENNESSEE NCAA PROBE: UT's well-funded internal investigation helped NCAA and maybe the university too

ADAMS: Who could be next Cedric Tillman for Tennessee Vols?

Wide receiver: Big upgrade but pending

UT lost Andison Coby and Kaemen Marley and added Southern Cal transfer Bru McCoy. It should be an overwhelming upgrade in impact. But McCoy is not yet eligible, according to coach Josh Heupel.

The NCAA allows players to transfer once without sitting out a season. In January 2019, McCoy enrolled at USC, transferred to Texas several weeks later for spring practice and then transferred back to USC that summer before playing a college game. He must get a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible immediately.

Coby made one catch for the Vols and transferred to Indiana. Marley did not play a game in 2021 after practicing at safety, linebacker and mostly wide receiver.

McCoy, a former five-star recruit, should compete for a starting position. He was a part-time starter at USC in 2020, catching 21 passes for 236 yards and two TDs. And he was viewed as one of the Pac-12’s best wide receivers before off-the-field issues sidelined him for the 2021 season.

Getting more production from McCoy than the two departing receivers combined is also a plus because the Vols can use that extra scholarship elsewhere.

Running back: Downgrade for now

Tiyon Evans was UT’s most effective running back for most of last season. But he missed four games due to injury, left the team with one regular-season game remaining and transferred to Louisville.

Evans’ longevity with the Vols was always going to be shaky. But he should be a weapon for Louisville, where he’ll likely be in a two-man rotation similar to his UT partnership with Jabari Small.

Dee Beckwith had a 6-foot-5, 227-pound frame. But he was buried on UT’s depth chart, and that was unlikely to change. He transferred to Kentucky, where he’s an insurance policy as starting running back Chris Rodriquez deals with the fallout of his May arrest on DUI charges.

Kentucky’s running back room is still overcrowded, so Beckwith likely will face the same obstacles for playing time as he did at UT.

The Vols didn’t add a running back in the portal to replace Evans, so it’s a clear-cut downgrade to start the season. That could change if touted freshman Justin Williams-Thomas makes an early impact. Beckwith’s departure also opened a scholarship that wasn’t otherwise being utilized, which could be a positive.

Offensive line: Jury is still out

K’Rojhn Calbert could’ve competed at a vacant starting tackle spot, but he transferred to Eastern Kentucky for surefire playing time. James Robinson and Chris Akporoghene transferred to South Alabama and Tulsa, respectively, after primarily playing on special teams at UT.

The Vols added Florida transfer Gerald Mincey, who will compete for the starting tackle spot in preseason camp. If Mincey pans out and those vacant scholarships are filled by promising freshmen, it’s a clear-cut upgrade. But that’s not certain yet.

Tight end: Downgrade unless recouped

Former four-star recruit Julian Nixon hasn’t found a new school since entering the portal in April. Trinity Bell transferred to Iowa Western Community College.

Neither played in a game as freshmen in 2021. And UT is set at tight end this season with the return of Jacob Warren and Princeton Fant.

This isn’t a downgrade immediately, but it could be over time.

ADAMS: Tennessee has history of faring well with a proven quarterback

Charlie Browder, a tight end on scholarship at Central Florida, transferred to UT as a walk-on in January to fill a hole on the depth chart. No tight ends were signed in the 2022 class, and four-star recruit Ethan Davis is committed in the 2023 class. Sophomore Miles Campbell will play behind Warren and Fant this season.

There might not be a problem at tight end this season. But UT potentially could have a gap in developing the position if it doesn’t add through the portal next season.

Linebacker: Freshmen can stave off downgrade

UT lost former four-star prospects Aaron Willis and Morven Joseph and added Nebraska transfer Jackson Hannah.

Willis touted potential after playing eight games as a freshman last season, mostly on special teams. He transferred to Houston. Joseph played only 16 snaps as a sophomore and transferred to Florida Atlantic.

Hannah played 12 games on scholarship at Nebraska last season, mostly on special teams. That appears to be his role with the Vols, as well. One bonus for UT is that he is a walk-on, which saves a scholarship to use elsewhere.

Willis and Joseph have more talent combined than Hannah, and they might flourish at their new schools. Also, UT could face depth issues at linebacker. If so, this is a downgrade.

But if Hannah simply fills a special teams role that they would’ve shared together, it’s a short-term upgrade. Another factor is how quickly freshman linebackers Elijah Herring and Kalib Perry can contribute.

Secondary: Upgrade by a long shot

Cornerback Tyus Fields, a former four-star recruit, barely played in three seasons at UT. And he hasn’t landed at another school since entering the portal in April.

UT added Georgia Tech transfer Wesley Walker and Ohio State transfer Andre Turrentine and signed junior college transfer Dee Williams. It’s an overwhelming upgrade at a position of need after the Vols had the SEC’s worst pass defense last season.

Walker was a starting nickelback at Georgia Tech, and he should play nickelback, Star position or safety at UT. Turrentine, a former four-star recruit, didn’t crack the rotation as a freshman at Ohio State, but he should be in the mix at safety or Star position with the Vols. Williams’ impact is uncertain after debuting in spring practice.

Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football roster 2022: How transfer portal affected UT Vols