assessing the requirements for Tennessee’s transfer portal for every defensive position
Undergraduate FBS players have access to the NCAA transfer portal through Monday, and Tennessee has already begun scouting and reaching out to players from other programmes whose records are in the database in order to pursue other opportunities. After being chosen for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Sunday, the Vols still have one game left in the 2023 season: they will play Iowa in Orlando on New Year’s Day. However, the coaching staff will spend the majority of the upcoming weeks evaluating their needs and assembling the roster for 2024. With the Early Signing Period approaching later in December, this is a big recruiting month. Tennessee’s coaches will be focusing on portal targets during their travels and remaining visitation days.
Tennessee’s preference, according to third-year head coach Josh Heupel, is to build the majority of the programme through traditional high school recruiting. The Vols currently have a 20-member class of committed players ranked No. 12 for 2024, which includes 12 blue-chippers. This class comes after a top-10 2023 class. However, the Vols demonstrated a year ago that they will make use of the transfer portal to add players to the roster when needed and to acquire plug-and-play starters.
Which positions should the Vols focus on with the openings they intend to use on transfers as roster-management season gets underway? Portal targets come in various flavours: from players who are more likely to be depth or rotational pieces to players who are quick additions brought in to cover a void. There are also more developmental transfers, some of whom may have graduated from high school a year or two ago and still have several seasons of eligibility remaining.
Warren, who stands 6-foot-7.5 and weighs 330 pounds, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 8 offensive tackle prospect in the country and the No. 13 prospect overall in Texas. Warren hasn’t received much attention in the field because he attended a smaller private school in a state like Texas where public education is the norm. He can’t wait to play and put himself to the test against the greatest.
“I think it’s an amazing blessing,” he replied. “I honestly would never bet coming from a small private school I’d end up playing in such a prestigious game with some of the best players in America, so it’s just a real joy and a blessing.”
Warren has heard talk about the game but has never seen it. While he’s there, Warren intends to fully enjoy the experience.
He declared, “I’ve never really watched it.” “I am aware of it. I’ve never watched the high school bowl; I’ve only ever watched the senior bowl. I’m excited to find out more about it.”
Over the course of the previous two years, Warren travelled the nation on recruiting visits and made a lot of friends. Before they all go off to college, the game will be a chance to catch up with some old friends.
“I think one of my guys Jordan Ross is playing in it,” he stated. “I’m eager to compete against him before we play against one another in college. It also features a few other guys I know playing. It will be great to see the guys again before we head across the country because there are a tonne of people I know or have met on visits.”
