Tennessee Vols use a top player in the transfer portal to meet their big roster need.
With the transfer portal, the Tennessee Volunteers have witnessed significantly more subtraction than addition thus far. Fans of Tennessee have been waiting for positive news while well-known figures bid farewell on social media.
On Friday night, the good news finally arrived—and it arrived in a major manner. Holden Staes, a transfer tight end from Notre Dame and the number-one pick in 247 Sports’ transfer portal, committed to Tennessee.
It was a huge answer to a position that had very few heading into 2024. McCallan Castles and Jacob Warren are seniors and are moving on. IMG Academy four-star tight end prospect Jonathan Echols flipped his commitment to South Florida last week. UConn tight end Justin Joly received a scholarship offer from Tennessee, but he ended up choosing NC State, who the Vols face in Charlotte on September 7.
Now, the Vols have a potential playmaker at the position that perhaps they haven’t had since Heupel arrived in Knoxville. The 6’4″, 242-pound Staes was a four-star tight end in the class of 2022 out of Westminster School in Atlanta, Georgia. He was ranked 11th of all tight ends in 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
Staes had his best game this year against NC State, where he caught 4 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the Irish’ 45-24 win in Raleigh. For the season, Staes caught 15 passes for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns. Staes will reportedly have two years of eligibility when he gets to Knoxville.
Since Heupel moved to Knoxville, tight ends have not played a significant role in the offense; in three seasons, not a single tight end has gained 300 receiving yards. But with a player like Staes, perhaps some new heights will be attained come autumn.
