Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White enters the NCAA Transfer Portal

robby:Rob Lewis•12/27/24•

Volquest_Rob

squirrel white
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Transfer portal season is in full swing all across the country and Tennessee is feeling both the positive and negative effects. The most recent departure from the Vols’ roster is veteran receiver Squirrel White.

White, from Birmingham, Ala., was second on the team in receptions in 2024 with 34 and was third on the team with 381 yards receiving, appearing in all 13 games.

A three year contributor for Tennessee White got onto the field as a freshman in 2022 as part of the Vols’ 11-2 team.

He had 30 receptions for 481 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman.

In 2023 he was Tennessee’s leading receiver with 67 catches for 803 yards.

His role was reduced this year with a healthy Bru McCoy back and Donte’ Thornton taking a step in his development.

White’s best game in 2024 was a five catch, 71 yard effort against Florida in Tennessee’s overtime win over the Gators.

Understanding the portal


The winter transfer portal window runs from December 9-28. The spring portal window runs from April 16-25.


Players don’t have to pick a school they are going to during those specific dates but those are the span of dates on when a player can enter the portal.


Those dates don’t apply to graduate transfers who can enter the portal whenever they wish. Also, if there’s a head coaching change, their players are granted an immediate 30-day window during which they can enter the portal. 


Of note, any team playing in a game after Dec 28 (playoffs or regular bowl) gets a five-day window once season ends for those player to enter portal.So, say a team loses in the CFP first round on Dec 20/21? Their transfer portal window wouldn’t be affected as the regular window ends more than five days after that loss.


Players who enter the portal in the winter window are trying to be somewhere for the spring semester. 
For Tennessee the spring semester starts on January 21which is late compared to many schools around the country. Tennessee a year ago started a winter mini-term class that runs the first three weeks of January. 

Vols have benefitted from the portal


The transfer portal can giveth and it can taketh away. For Josh Heupel it’s been much more of a positive than a negative for the Vols when you look at the 2024 season. 


Left tackle Lance Heard has been a fixture on an offense line that has helped the Vols rush for over 2,700 yards. Tight end Miles Kitselman has been a terrific portal grab because he is the leader of the tight end room. A room that also includes transfer Holden Staes. 

Defensively, Jermod McCoy has been the best transfer Tennessee has gotten. McCoy is having an All-American season. 

In total, Tennessee added 10 transfers for the current 2024 roster. 

You may also like