:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68562073/usa_today_11340992.0.jpg)
Another day, another player in the transfer portal for the Tennessee Volunteers. It’s that time of year for college football players who are looking to maximize their final seasons of eligibility.
Tight end Austin Pope is the latest player to enter the transfer portal, per Matt Zenitz.
Have learned that Tennessee tight end Austin Pope has entered the transfer portal.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 21, 2020
Was a starter in 2019. Missed this season due to an injury.
Pope missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing back surgery late in the summer months. It was a big loss for Tennessee, as Pope was set to start following the exit of Dominick Wood-Anderson.
That wasn’t able to happen, and Tennessee suffered at the position. It was a mix of Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren in 2020, as the Volunteers got virtually nothing in terms of offensive production from the spot.
2019 four-star signing Jackson Lowe has already entered the transfer portal.
Tennessee signed two potential solutions in the 2021 class. Four-star Miles Campbell should factor into the equation right away, while three-star athlete Trinity Bell could land on either side of the ball.
Pope’s exit is a bit of a surprise, considering his experience and the lack of competition on the roster. The redshirt senior could always return to Tennessee, but he’ll at the very least see what his options are in the portal for now.