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Five newcomers that need a big spring to help Tennessee in 2025

On3 imageby:Austin Price•03/06/25•

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OT David Sanders Jr.

Tennessee has a big freshman class ready to go through spring practice starting on Friday. A top-10 recruiting class ready to make an impact. They also have four veteran transfers ready to roll out of the winter window.

Volquest looks at five newcomers that need to have growth this spring in an effort to help this fall.

David Sanders

Sanders comes in the door as Tennessee’s crown jewel of the 2025 class. He has impressed since he arrived on campus for college football playoff prep back in December. He has followed that up with a strong showing during winter workouts. When you come in with that much acclaim, it’s important to find a path to the field quickly. Sanders has a tremendous opportunity to be Tennessee’s starting right tackle this fall. But to do that, it all starts with a strong spring.

Travis Smith

Smith has shown great athleticism during winter workouts. Now he goes into the meeting room and onto the practice field for spring ball. Tennessee has seven scholarship wide receivers with one, Joakim Dodson, not arriving until the summer and another (Amari Jefferson) being limited for the start of spring. Thus, Smith will get plenty of reps to grow and blossom over 15 practices. The lack of depth at his position is real eye-opening and how he and fellow freshman Radarious Jackson perform this spring will help determine how Tennessee looks at the portal for receivers during the spring window.

Isaiah Campbell

Tennessee’s other incoming five-star is Campbell and the dynamic defensive lineman has an opportunity with the graduation of several upperclassmen from the interior of the defensive front. Add in that Daevin Hobbs is missing spring due to surgery clean up, and Campbell will see some run on the practice field under Rodney Garner. Campbell has size and athleticism and because of that, he has some versatility on the defensive line. A young guy like Campbell will be able to learn from Bryson Eason and Jaxson Moi as well.

Sam Pendleton

Pendleton transfers from Notre Dame where he started the first half of last season for the Fighting Irish. This is a big opportunity this spring for him as Tennessee is looking to find new starters at center and both guard positions. He practiced and worked at both positions during the last two years in South Bend. Could he be Tennessee starting center this fall? I think it’s certainly possible as Glen Elarbee will be working to find his best combination. Pendleton is also a very mature kid, who will likely bring a strong work ethic and leadership to the room.

Freshman corners

This one is not just about one player. With uthe ncertainty surrounding Rickey Gibson and the portal, along with the injury to Jermod McCoy, this is a big spring for several freshman newcomers.

Tre Poteat is going to be play some corner and is also working at nickel as a potential backup to Boo Carter. Tim Merritt, Dylan Lewis and Ty Redmond will all be working to be the fourth corner behind potentially Gibson, McCoy and Jalen McMurray.

Depending on what Gibson decides and how quick McCoy comes back from knee surgery, their play could determine how Tennessee feels about adding another piece in the secondary from the spring portal window. Redmond and Lewis were high school teammates, who are used to playing together in the secondary. Merritt has lots of upside as he played just about anything in high school, including quarterback. Poteat is the son of a college coach, so he will come in polished and offers versatility at either corner or nickel.

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