As Tennessee football gears up for another season, their transfer portal activity has made headlines—though not for the right reasons. Despite securing some solid players to bolster their roster, the Volunteers’ 2025 transfer portal class is glaringly missing one crucial element: elite talent at the quarterback position.
While Tennessee has made significant strides in rebuilding its roster, particularly on the defensive side and in the skill positions, the lack of a game-changing quarterback is troubling. Quarterback is arguably the most vital position on any football team, and for the Vols, it’s the one position they’ve failed to address effectively through the transfer portal.
The 2025 season will likely see Joe Milton III returning as the starting quarterback, but his performance in the past has been a mixed bag. While he possesses a strong arm and impressive physical attributes, his consistency and decision-making have left fans and analysts questioning his ability to lead Tennessee to the promised land of SEC championships and beyond. Milton’s track record at Tennessee hasn’t exactly screamed “future star,” which makes the absence of a proven transfer quarterback even more glaring.
Other SEC powerhouses have capitalized on the transfer portal, landing experienced quarterbacks with the potential to make an immediate impact. Programs like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU have all managed to bolster their quarterback rooms, ensuring that they’re well-equipped to handle the high-pressure environments of SEC football. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s inaction at quarterback feels like a glaring oversight.
As the Volunteers continue to recruit and evaluate talent, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the lack of a top-tier transfer quarterback could come back to haunt them. With the SEC growing more competitive every year, Tennessee can’t afford to stand pat while its rivals make major moves to solidify their signal-caller positions. If the Vols hope to make any noise in 2025, they need to rethink their strategy and find a quarterback who can not only manage the offense but elevate it to championship levels. Without that piece, Tennessee may find themselves falling short once again.
