Tennessee Vols Losing Several Key Starters To Transfer Portal

Knoxville, Tennessee has seen better weeks. Those in and around the Vols football program have seen better weeks. And we're seeing all that play out publicly.

First, it was the firing of head coach Jeremy Pruitt due to an internal investigation. Then, it was the rumors about what the investigation found. Now, Tennessee is losing multiple key players from its 2020 roster.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Henry To'o To'o, Eric Gray, Quavaris Crouch and Jahmir Johnson were entering the transfer portal. That doesn't even include the loss of former five-star offensive tackle Wanya Morris, who is moving on to Oklahoma.

The biggest loss is obviously To'o To'o. He was an instant starter in Knoxville in 2019 and finished second on the team in tackles. He then followed that performance by leading the team in tackles (76) and tackles for loss (10.0) while adding in a sack and an interception.

Oh, and he did all that in only 10 games.

To'o To'o is a former top-50 prospect from the 2019 class, and he's lived up to the billing through two seasons. Tennessee needs to do whatever it can to keep him around, if possible -- just don't give him money in a McDonald's sack.

The others are sizable losses as well.

Gray led the team in rushing yards with 772 and tied for the lead in rushing touchdowns with four. He also added 254 yards and two scores through the air, making him a 1,000-yard contributor. Crouch was a starter next to To'o To'o and Johnson was projected to be in the mix at left tackle.

Now, the Vols are looking for replacement options on top of a coaching search. Things around not going well in Knoxville, and it doesn't look like they'll get better anytime soon.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.