Josh Heupel says Tennessee players entering NCAA Transfer Portal won't play in playoff game
Josh Heupel said Monday that Tennessee players who have entered or plan to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal won’t play for the Vols in the first round of the College Football Playoffs Saturday night at Ohio State.
So far eight Tennessee players have opted to enter the portal: Sophomore running back Cam Seldon; redshirt freshman receiver Nathan Leacock; redshirt sophomore receiver Chas Nimrod; redshirt freshman linebacker Jalen Smith; redshirt freshman Jordan Matthews; sophomore running back Khalifa Keith; freshman offensive lineman Vysen Lang; redshirt sophomore receiver Kaleb Webb.
“Obviously the calendar and the way that it’s set up, it’s unique,” Heupel said on Monday. “It might be the only sport that operates this way. Transfer portal, free agency, whatever you want to call it, is right in the middle of your postseason play.
“But we do feel like the roster is set. This group is ready to go compete and ready to prepare the right way.”
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
Tennessee (10-2) and Ohio State (10-2) are scheduled on Saturday for an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC and ESPN at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The winner advances to face No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The NCAA Transfer Portal opened last Monday and will remain open until December 28.
Only one of the eight Tennessee scholarship players so far have announce their commitment to a new school, with Webb committing to Wake Forest on Friday. It was reported on Monday that Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson is retiring.
Wide receiver has been the position hit the hardest for Tennessee early on in the portal window, with Webb, Nimrod and Leacock all leaving.
Webb this season caught six passes for 48 yards while appearing in seven games. Last season he caught 16 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown while appearing in 13 games and played in three games as a true freshman in 2022.
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Nimrod caught 10 passes for 121 yards in 12 games this season. He caught 19 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season.
Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton missed time at Vanderbilt with injuries
Tennessee ended the regular season dealing with injuries at wide receiver. Bru McCoy didn’t play at Vanderbilt after a hamstring issue flared up during pregame and Dont’e Thornton missed the second half due to an upper-body injury
Junior Squirrel White, redshirt sophomore Chris Brazzell II and freshmen Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are the only other remaining scholarship receivers.
Heupel said Monday that Staley would be ready to play at Ohio State if necessary. He played in just four games this season, catching one pass for 10 yards against UTEP on November 23.
“Braylon has done a great job,” Heupel said. “Young player that just has continued to grow through the winter, through the spring, through the summer. More opportunities, chose to play him in four (games), keep the redshirt. But he’s more than ready to go play in this one.”
