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Former Tennessee DB Tamarion McDonald announces transfer commitment, staying in SEC

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•12/16/23•

GrantRamey

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A second Tennessee defensive back is transferring and staying in the SEC. A day after former Tennessee corner Doneiko Slaughter announced his commitment to Arkansas, senior nickel Tamarion McDonald on Saturday announced his commitment to Ole Miss.

McDonald submitted his paperwork to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal on December 11. In four seasons with the Vols, he 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.

McDonald is one of six Tennessee defensive backs to enter the portal since it opened on December 4, alongside Slaughter, redshirt seniors Warren Burrell and Brandon Turnage, freshman Jack Luttrell and junior De’Shawn Rucker.

Slaughter and Burrell, who committed to Georgia Tech on December 10, were previously the only two to announce commitment decisions. 

Tennessee will face Slaughter when the Vols play at Arkansas on October 5 next season, but Ole Miss is not on the schedule. 

Nine Tennessee players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in total, with the others being redshirt freshman offensive lineman Mo Clipper Jr., who committed to Charlotte, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Addison Nichols and redshirt defensive end Tyler Baron, who is also reportedly being recruited by Ole Miss. 

Five Tennessee players have announced their return for next season

Junior Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright on Friday announced that he was declaring for the NFL Draft and the Vols on Friday night got a commitment from Notre Dame tight end Holden Staes, their first commitment out of the portal during this cycle. 

Wright in his three seasons with the Vols rushed for 2,297 yards and 18 touchdowns on 368 attempts. This season he became the 19th Tennessee running back to reach 1,000 yards, doing so on just 137 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Wright will not play in the Citrus Bowl.

The 6-foot-4, 242-pound Staes spent the last two seasons at Notre Dame and caught 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games this season. He had one catch for 11 yards as a freshman in 2022. 

He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Westminster School in Atlanta, Ga. He was ranked as the No. 9 tight end his class and was the No. 23 overall player in the state of Georgia. He was ranked No. 201 overall in the On3 ratings.

Five Tennessee players have announced their return for the 2024 season: Offensive tackle John Campbell, linebacker Keenan Pili, offensive tackle Garland Mincey, defensive tackle Omari Thomas and center Cooper Mays.

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