Tennessee
Bracketology: Tracking Tennessee Basketball's Offseason Movement | Rocky Top Insider
The college basketball world has made plenty of noise this offseason with prominent coaching changes, transfer portal activity, and final preparations for conference realignment heading into the 2024 season.
Coming off a run to the Elite Elite last season, Rick Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers dealt with a significant amount of outgoing activity with the portal and graduation but hit a grand slam with four solid transfer players coming into the program.
Tennessee will now work to combine their returning and incoming pieces throughout the summer for another run to the second weekend of the postseason and potentially beyond.
ESPN expert Joe Lunardi released his latest Bracketology report on the final day of May without too many changes to his overall Tennessee projection throughout the offseason.
Lunardi has Tennessee projected as the four-seed in the East Region (Newark) with a first-round matchup against 13-seed Louisiana Tech. Tennessee then has a fascinating potential second-round matchup against SEC foe five-seed Texas if the Longhorns were to take down 12-seed Bradley in the first round.
The four-team pod is projected to be slated in Cleveland, Ohio.
Other notable projections for the East Region include back-to-back National Champion UConn as the one-seed, Iowa State as the two-seed, and North Carolina as the three-seed. SEC foe Mississippi State comes in as the seven-seed in the region while friend of Tennessee’s program Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans are projected as the eight-seed. Missouri is projected for a play-in game as the 11-seed in the East Region as well.
The SEC gained a team from the previous projections, too. The conference previously had 10 selections in the May 3 and May 15 projections but is up to 11 with the addition of Missouri as one of the last four teams in:
Midwest (Indianapolis): 2. Auburn, 5. Arkansas
West (San Francisco): 6. Texas A&M, 7. Kentucky, 9. Florida
South (Atlanta): 2. Alabama, 8. Ole Miss
East (Newark): 4. Tennessee, 5. Texas, 7. Mississippi State, 11. Missouri (play-in)
More from RTI: VFL John Fulkerson Celebrates Tennessee Long Ball in Knoxville
The May 31 edition of Lunardi’s March Madness projections is the fourth iteration that the ESPN expert has done so far this season.
Tennessee started out as a five-seed in Lunardi’s projection on April 16, just one day after the Vols’ first transfer portal pickup with Hofstra wing Darlinstone “DStone” Dubar.
By the time the next projection came out on May 3, Tennessee had picked up two more portal pieces with Ohio State center Felix Okpara and Charlotte forward Igor Milicic Jr. The Vols moved up to the four-seed line after their second and third portal pickups.
Tennessee remained as a four-seed with no additional added players before the May 15 bracketology report was released. The Vols did pick up an elite guard on May 24, though, adding the No. 11 prospect in the portal with North Florida guard Chaz Lanier.
Tennessee Bracketology Tracker
April 16: 5-seed West Region vs 12-seed Bradley
May 3: 4-seed West Region vs 13-seed Vermont
May 15: 4-seed South Region vs 13-seed High Point
May 31: 4-seed East Region vs 13-seed Louisiana Tech
Tennessee
Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival
The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.
Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”
Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt
Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.
He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.
“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.
More Vols News
Tennessee
Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target
The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.
The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.
The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.
Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.
Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.
Jaquez White’s 2025 Season
“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”
More Vols News
Tennessee
Tennessee football DL Josh Schell enters transfer portal
Tennessee defensive lineman Josh Schell has entered the transfer portal, he announced on social media on Jan. 6.
Schell had a short stint at Tennessee after transferring from Grand Valley State in April. He played all 13 games and made one tackle in the 2025 season.
Schell played more than 100 snaps, mostly on special teams. He never cracked the rotation on the defensive line.
Schell spent three seasons at Grand Valley State, including a redshirt year, and one season at Tennessee. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder is from Camden, New Jersey. His best college season was 2024 at Grand Valley State, when he played 13 games and recorded 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He was also a pitcher on the Grand Valley State baseball game in the 2023 season.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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