After the Tennessee football program finished their season 10-2 and second in the SEC, they could be losing a member of their defense. Tennessee redshirt freshman linebacker Jalen Smith appears to be one of the college football athletes who could be looking for a new opportunity in the NCAA transfer portal, per Hayes Fawcett of On3 on X.
Entering college, Smith was a three-star recruit out of Loganville, GA, playing his high school ball for the Grayson Rams. Smith was ranked 44th among recruits in Georgia, ranking as the 42nd-best linebacker that year.
And after two years with Tennessee’s football program, Smith appears to be entering the transfer portal.
In 2024, the Volunteers continued their streak of winning records, dating back to 2021. Once he became Tennessee’s head football coach, Josh Heupel has had the Volunteers playing some of their best football since the late 1990s or early 2000s.
In 2024, the Volunteers continued their streak of winning records, dating back to 2021. Once he became Tennessee’s head football coach, Josh Heupel has had the Volunteers playing some of their best football since the late 1990s or early 2000s.
And with the availability of the transfer portal for players to switch teams, it creates an opportunity to shine elsewhere. It’s not the most beloved part of college football for some fans, but it’s a way for these student-athletes to express their willingness to be “traded” in a sense.
Trades are a crucial part of professional sports nowadays, and with that being the end goal for many of these athletes, it makes sense to have that ability in college, too.
So, as Tennessee awaits their destiny for the College Football Playoff, they could be doing so with the knowledge that Smith won’t be returning next season.
And while Smith could be repping a new uniform in 2025, he’ll always have a spot in Rocky Top Nation.
