Grand Valley State transfer DT Josh Schell commits to Tennessee

Former Grand Valley State defensive tackle Josh Schell has committed to Tennessee via the NCAA Transfer Portal. He spent three seasons at Grand Valley State.

In the 2024 campaign, Schell tallied career-highs of 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. For his efforts, Schell was named an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Honorable Mention selection.

Schell redshirted his true freshman season at Grand Valley State in 2022. He was also a pitcher on the baseball team that year. In 2023, Schell made eight appearances and recorded 11 total tackles.

Josh Schell played high school football at Mt. Pleasant (MI), where he was an unranked prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Now, Shell will look to reach new heights at Tennessee.

Schell took an official visit to Tennessee on April 27. He recapped his experience in an interview with VolQuest.

“The coaching staff and the opportunities,” Schell said when asked what stood out about his visit. “You are playing in the SEC. It’s the premier league in college football, and the staff here is amazing. Coach Garner has been in the SEC for 36 years and has produced how many draft picks? He is elite at his job. I would say that’s the most appealing thing to me.”

Schell didn’t stop there, either. Entering his redshirt junior season, Schell knows his time is limited, and he believes Tennessee is the place to reach his potential.

“I’m old. I’m 22. I’m not here for the ‘oh this is the coolest place’. I want to go play football. I’m looking for the best spot for me. I’m going to see my top schools, make a decision, and then I can get to work. I need to get to work and get going with a system,” Schell said.

“I’m looking to find a home. I’m looking for the right spot for me. I’m not looking to hit the portal six more times. I’m looking for somewhere that I can contribute and play football at a high level.”

UCF, SMU and Kentucky also recruited Schell in the transfer portal. He will look to build on Tennessee’s defensive success from last season.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.