Former Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald flips from Ole Miss commitment
Former Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald on Monday flipped his transfer commitment from Ole Miss to Louisville. McDonald submitted paperwork to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal on December 11 and announced his commitment to Ole Miss five days later.
He was the second former Tennessee defensive back to commit to Louisville on Monday, following former Vols safety Wesley Walker. Walker was the ninth outgoing Tennessee player to announce a commitment to a new school out of the portal.
McDonald in four seasons with the Vols had 115 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, one sack and four interceptions. He had a career-high 55 tackles, 4.0 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games in 2022. He had 40 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss this season.
Louisville added two former Tennessee defensive backs on Monday
Walker was a later portal entry, making the move on December 22. Walker initially transferred from Georgia Tech to Tennessee after the 2021 season and 89 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two interceptions in 23 games with the Vols. This season he finished fourth on the team with 53 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He became the seventh Tennessee defensive back to enter the portal since the ned of the season.
Other Tennessee players who have left since the end of the season are defensive back Warren Burrell (Georgia Tech), offensive lineman Mo Clipper Jr. (Charlotte), defensive back Doneiko Slaughter (Arkansas), defensive end Tyler Baron (Ole Miss), defensive back Jack Luttrell (Arizona), offensive lineman Addison Nichols (Arkansas) and defensive back De’Shawn Rucker (South Florida).
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Offensive lineman Gerald Mincey and defensive back Brandon Turnage are in the portal but have not yet announced commitment decisions. Mincey initially announced he would be returning to Tennessee for another season, but then entered the portal on January 4.
Tennessee has added four players out of the NCAA Transfer Portal
The Vols have added four commitments out of the portal: Notre Dame tight end Holden Staes, Oregon State defensive back Jermod McCoy, Middle Tennessee State defensive back Jakobe Thomas and Tulane wide receiver Chris Brazzell.
Staes spent the last two seasons with the Fighting Irish. He caught 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games this season, after catching one pass for 11 yards as a freshman in 2022. McCoy as a freshman at Oregon State had 31 tackles with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven passes defended this season.
Thomas over the last two seasons at MTSU had 108 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Brazzell caught 44 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns at Tulane this season, appearing in 13 games. He caught one pass for 11 yards in two games as a freshman in 2022.
