Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Former Tennessee tight end Holden Staes announces commitment to Indiana

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•about 15 hours•

GrantRamey

Tennessee-2
Sep 21, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson (6) celebrates with Tennessee Volunteers tight end Holden Staes (19) after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Former Tennessee tight end Holden Staes is on the move, transferring from one College Football Playoff program to another. Staes on Thursday announced his commitment to Indiana after one year with the Vols.

Staes came to Tennessee last January as a transfer portal addition from Notre Dame. He played in all 13 games for Tennessee this season, finishing with 15 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown on 427 snaps.

The junior tallied a season-high 30 yards against UTEP in November three catches against Kentucky. Staes racked up at least one reception in all but three games this season, including multiple receptions in five games.   

A part of the Class of 2022, Staes was a four-star rated tight end and considered the No. 201 player in the cycle, No. 9 player at his position and No. 23 player out of Georgia. Staes was a standout at Westminster School in Atlanta, Ga.

Where Tennessee transfers are headed

Staes is the 11th former Tennessee player to commit to a new school out of the NCAA Transfer Portal and is the fifth to do so since Saturday afternoon.

Wide receiver Squirrel White committed to Florida State Sunday night, joining former UT defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins who also committed to FSU earlier on Sunday. Three former Vols committed to new schools over the weekend, with wide receiver Chas Nimrod going to South Florida on Saturday.

Wide receiver Nathan Leacock committed to Purdue on Sunday and Kalib Perry signed with Louisville on Monday.

Wide receiver Kaleb Webb is headed to Maryland, defensive back Jordan Matthews signed with Vanderbilt and linebacker Jalen Smith is headed to Mississippi State. Running back Khalifa Keith committed to Appalachian State and running back Cameron Seldon went to Virginia Tech.

Vols have added two players out of the NCAA Transfer Portal

Tennessee so far has added two players out the NCAA Transfer Portal, in Alabama wide receiver Amari Jefferson and Arizona offensive lineman Wendell Moe.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Jefferson, out of Baylor High School in Chattanooga, was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He was the No. 204 overall prospect in the country, the No. 34 wide receiver in the class and the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee. He was heavily recruited by the Vols before being landed at Alabama a year ago. 

Moe appeared in all 13 games on Arizona’s offensive line during the 2023 season, part of an offense that finished 20th in total offense (448.0), eighth in passing offense (308.3) and 18th in scoring offense in the nation (34.6 ppg). 

Moe made three starts and appeared in four games as a freshman at Arizona in 2022. He played at Long Beach Poly High School. Moe was a three-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class.

You may also like